Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

A representational approach to developing primary ITT students' confidence in their mathematics

Bolden, D.S.; Barmby, P.W.; Harries, A.V.

A representational approach to developing primary ITT students' confidence in their mathematics Thumbnail


Authors

P.W. Barmby



Abstract

Representations of mathematical concepts play an important role in understanding: both in helping learners understand the to-be-learned material and in facilitating teachers’ understanding of pedagogical processes which, in turn, are involved in developing learners’ understanding. In this paper, we report on work with a cohort of pre-service primary teachers, with the aim of developing their understanding of mathematics, their confidence in their subject knowledge and their confidence in teaching mathematics. This was attempted through the introduction and use of a ‘representational approach’ to the teaching of the mathematical concepts required of teachers training to teach in primary schools in the UK. We present the results of attitude measures and a follow-up qualitative questionnaire in identifying whether and how the use of this representational approach supported pre-service teachers’ understanding and their confidence in teaching mathematics. The results suggest that the representational approach used had a positively significant impact on the attitudes towards studying and teaching mathematics.

Citation

Bolden, D., Barmby, P., & Harries, A. (2013). A representational approach to developing primary ITT students' confidence in their mathematics. International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, 44(1), 70-83. https://doi.org/10.1080/0020739x.2012.690899

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Jan 1, 2013
Deposit Date Jul 10, 2012
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology
Print ISSN 0020-739X
Electronic ISSN 1464-5211
Publisher Taylor and Francis Group
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 44
Issue 1
Pages 70-83
DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/0020739x.2012.690899
Keywords Representations, Subject knowledge, Primary, Pre-service teachers.

Files




You might also like



Downloadable Citations