Reflective Mathematics Activities: A Pathway to the Beliefs of Pre-service Elementary School Teachers

Document Type

Presentation Abstract

Presentation Date

5-13-2009

Abstract

Many researchers have identified the important role that beliefs about mathematics play in instructional decision making (e.g., Ernest, 1988; Schoenfeld, 1985). Given the central role that beliefs play in the classroom it follows that an element of preservice teacher education should concern itself with the development of beliefs that facilitate the learning of mathematics. In this talk, I propose a study of pre-service elementary teachers’ beliefs about mathematics by means of reflective mathematical activities. A reflective mathematical activity is an educational task in which a student is given the opportunity to construct a new mathematical concept while reflecting upon what it means to know and learn mathematics. I will give examples of reflective mathematical activities and propose a means of measuring pre-service teachers’ beliefs both quantitatively and qualitatively.

Additional Details

Doctoral Dissertation Research Proposal and Oral Comprehensive Examination.

Committee: Bharath Sriraman (chair), Jim Hirstein, Jon Graham, Albert Borgmann (Philosophy), Ke Norman

Wednesday May 13th, 2009 1.00-2.00 pm in Math 103 [Open to everyone]
2.10-3.00 [Oral part of Comprehensive Examination]

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