Tensions in Teaching Mathematics to Future Teachers: Understanding the Practice of Undergraduate Mathematics Instructors

• In Event: 66.043 - STEM Teaching and Learning Environments

Abstract

This paper reports on part of a five-year project which aims to improve the undergraduate geometry course taken by preservice mathematics teachers in Mathematics departments (GeT, hereafter). In our first year, we began by conducting 20 interviews with GeT instructors to gather information about their thoughts and concerns with teaching the course. From these interviews, we identified five common tensions GeT instructors deal with in their practice. Additionally, we convened a face-to-face conference with 44 GeT instructors where we gathered input from instructors about these tensions and asked them to illustrate these tensions as classroom narratives. The identification of these tensions can inform the work of those interested in improving undergraduate mathematics courses for teachers.

Authors

• Amanda Marie Milewski, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

• Mike Ion, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

• Patricio G. Herbst, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

• Mollee Changshu Shultz, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

• Inah Ko, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

• Heather Bleecker, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor