Self study as a mechanism to foster hopeful teaching

Date
2012
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
SUN MeDIA
Abstract
Teaching mathematics education to pre-service teachers (PSTs) enrolled at university is problematic, due to their lack of agreement about the extent to which they are prepared for teaching school mathematics. Pre-service preparation in South Africa currently occurs in the university, which impacts on the teaching of mathematics education. Noting such a context for teacher education, with its attendant dilemmas, this chapter attempts to present and explore a theoretical basis for helping us to understand what it means to teach mathematics education in such a context. I argue that such a theoretical basis is useful, providing perspectives on the practices of mathematics educators in the light of calls for teaching for the public good. The chapter takes the form of an analysis of selected excerpts of PSTs’ views of my teaching of mathematics education in a four-year Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) programme. There are a growing number of university-based science and mathematics educators who study their teaching; ie they engage in selfstudy. The question considered is: what might teaching for the public good of mathematics education in pre-service preparation at a university be like?
Description
CITATION: Gierdien, F. 2012.Self study as a mechanism to foster hopeful teaching, in B. Leibowitz (ed). 2012. Higher Education for the Public Good: Views from the South. Stellenbosch: AFRICAN SUN MeDIA. 179-190. doi:10.18820/9781928357056/14.
The original publication is available from AFRICAN SUNMeDIA - www.sun-e-shop.co.za
Keywords
Mathematics -- Education, Higher -- Study and teaching, Mathematics teachers -- Training of, Teaching -- Social aspects, Common good, Self study
Citation
Gierdien, F. 2012.Self study as a mechanism to foster hopeful teaching, in B. Leibowitz (ed). 2012. Higher Education for the Public Good: Views from the South. Stellenbosch: AFRICAN SUN MeDIA. 179-190. doi:10.18820/9781928357056/14.