EVALUATION OF THE SPECIALIZING SKILLS OF PROSPECTIVE SE-CONDARY SCHOOL MATHEMATICS TEACHERS, MATHEMATICS TEACHERS AND AN ACADEMICIAN: THE PAPER STRIP QUESTION
ORTAÖĞRETİM MATEMATİK ÖĞRETMEN ADAYLARININ, MATEMATİK ÖĞ-RETMENLERİNİN VE AKADEMİSYENİN ÖZELLEŞTİRME BECERİLERİNİN İNCELENMESİ: KAĞIT ŞERİT SORUSU

Author : Handan DEMİRCİOĞLU -- Halid Akif TUNCAY
Number of pages : 127-144

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the Specializing skills exhibited during problem solving by prospective mathematics teachers, by an academic, and by teachers with different levels of experience and teaching at different levels. The study was performed during the 2013-2014 academic year with five participants, which included two prospective teachers in their fifth year at Department of Secondary School Mathematics Education; two mathematics teachers working at an Anatolian High School in the Silifke district of Mersin province; and an academic currently performing his doctorate studies at a university. The case study method – which is one of the qualitative research methods – was used to examine the customization skills of the participants. Data were deciphered and processed by examining the video recordings taken during the meetings, and then converted into a written form. This data was then transferred to a computer environment together with the written solutions/answers submitted by the study participants. The study findings showed that while teachers tended to solve a problem without resorting to generalizations, the prospective teachers and academic expressed that they normally try to find answers to a problem after using generalizations. In addition, it was observed that while the teachers were able to solve problems by using three specific cases, the academic was able to do the same by using two specific cases. Prospective teachers, on the other hand, had to examine a larger number of specific cases than the teachers and the academic in order to solve the same problems.

Keywords

Mathematical Thinking, Specializing, Generalizizing, Assuming, Proof

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