Preservice Secondary Mathematics Teachers’ Reflections in Using Excelets as a Tool for Modeling

Abstract

With widespread adoption of technology for all into schools across the U.S., teachers need to be prepared to integrate these tools into classroom instruction. For mathematics, modeling problems with technology provides a key opportunity for students to experience the active nature of such tools in making sense of mathematics concepts. In order to gain insight into incorporating these tools into modeling tasks, preservice teachers need exposure to them as along with reflection on their use. This case study of 12 preservice secondary mathematics teachers enrolled in a mathematics methods course focused on a modeling task that was presented in an Excelet. Participants went through the Excelet and then reflected on the experience they had in interacting with it. Data included a video-recording of participants thinking-aloud while working through the Excelet and a survey consisting of 10 Likert-type and 5 open-ended questions where they reflected on their experience. Findings indicate that by reflecting on the experience related to using this tool, preservice teachers gained insight into challenges in integrating technology within content instruction. Participants fell into categories of strong or weak reflective individuals crossed with strong or weak users of technology. Findings of this study provide more evidence that teacher preparation programs still have work to do in preparing mathematics teachers to integrate technological tools into classroom instruction

    Similar works