Problem Solving as a Professional Development Strategy for Teachers: A Case Study with Fractions
Josefa Perdomo-Díaz 1 * , Patricio Felmer 1, Valeria Randolph 1, Guillermo González 1
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1 Center for Mathematical Modeling and Center for Advanced Research in Education (University of Chile)* Corresponding Author

Abstract

Background:
In this paper we present a professional development course designed to impact on teachers’ mathematical knowledge for teaching fractions. The main features of the course are the use of i) problem solving activities related with mathematical knowledge for teaching fractions ii) peer discussions and iii) monitor’s interventions focused on answering with questions. The objective of this paper is to present some insights on how this type of course may contribute to the development of teachers’ knowledge for teaching fractions.

Material and methods:
To do that we analyze the case of one teacher in depth, using the recording of his work during the course (video, audio, and written documents), his answers to two questionnaires and his responses to an interview six months after the course.

Results:
Results show how named features of the course contributed to the development of this teacher’s specific fractions knowledge, knowledge of fractions and students, and of fractions and teaching.

Conclusions:
This case study provide insights on how problem solving activities, together with peer interactions and answering with questions can be put together in the design of a professional development course where teachers mathematical knowledge for teaching improves.

License

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Article Type: Research Article

EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed, Volume 13, Issue 3, March 2017, 987-999

https://doi.org/10.12973/eurasia.2017.00653a

Publication date: 16 Dec 2016

Article Views: 3633

Article Downloads: 2131

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