To view the full text of this article...

An Exploration of Two Online Approaches to Mathematics Teacher Education

New Search

Print Abstract

E-mail Abstract

Full Text

Save to My Collections

Export Citation

Groth, R. & Burgess, C. (2009). An Exploration of Two Online Approaches to Mathematics Teacher Education. Journal of Computers in Mathematics and Science Teaching, 28(3), 221-246. Chesapeake, VA: AACE.
Retrieved from http://www.editlib.org/p/27033.

• Share:
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Journal Information

Journal of Computers in Mathematics and Science Teaching
ISSN 0731-9258
Volume 28, Issue 3, July 2009
Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE)  Chesapeake, VA

More Information on JCMST

Authors

Randall Groth, Claudia Burgess, Salisbury University, USA

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to examine the nature of the discourse generated by two different online approaches to mathematics teacher professional development. Thirty mathematics teachers participated in online activities involving analysis and discourse about artifacts of teaching practice. Half were randomly assigned to a group that analyzed and discussed students work samples, and the other half to a group focused upon descriptions of classroom teaching episodes. Teachers formed threads of conversation on asynchronous discussion boards as they considered the different aspects of each artifact. Within the threads, different orientations toward the reform agenda in mathematics education were shown. Some messages were strongly rooted in the reform paradigm, others in the traditional paradigm, and many others contained elements characteristic of each paradigm. The distribution and characteristics of the messages reflected teachers’ frequent attempts to try to reconcile the largely incompatible paradigms undergirding reform-oriented and traditional approaches to mathematics instruction. This paper describes the nature of the discourses occurring within each group of teachers with the aim of providing empirical grounds to inform the actions of teacher educators and researchers designing online learning environments that attempt to bring teachers more fully into the reform-oriented discourse about teaching mathematics.

Keywords

• Teachers
• Mathematics
• eLearning
• Professional Development
• Internet

Also Read

• Preface
• Research Highlights in Technology and Teacher Education 2009
• Ubiquitous wireless laptops in upper elementary mathematics
• Challenges in Mentoring Software Development Projects in the High School: Analysis According to Shulman's Teacher Knowledge Base Model
• Introducing Dynamic Mathematics Software to Secondary School Teachers: the Case of GeoGebra
• Moving Ahead to the Future By Going Back to the Past: Mathematics Education Online
• Usage Analysis in Learning Systems
• Evolving polygons and spreadsheets: Connecting mathematics across grade levels in teacher education
• Explore Effective Use of Computer Simulations for Physics Education
• Examining the use of Computer Algebra Systems in university-level mathematics teaching

Tags