Journals / Bayburt Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi / 2015 / Cilt: 10 - Sayı: 2

PROSPECTIVE MATHEMATICS TEACHERS’ DIFFICULTIES IN DOING PROOFS AND CAUSES OF THEIR STRUGGLE WITH PROOFS

Prospectıve Mathematıcs Teachers’ Dıffıcultıes In Doıng Proofs And Causes Of Theır Struggle Wıth Proofs_ERIC

Pages
315–328
Publication Date
2016-04-01
DOI
—
🏛️Bibliographic metadata and full text access for this article are provided via DergiPark.
DergiPark Record ↗
✨

AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Interviews with the participantshave shown that the major causes of such difficulties stem from prospective teachers having a negative attitude about proofs, and the various shortcomings in learning and teaching proofs.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:This research aims to expose prospective mathematics teachers’ difficulties while proving, as well as the reasons behind such difficulties.
📊
Key Findings & Data:The research includes 121 second year undergraduate prospective teachers studying at the primary mathematics teaching department of a state university in Turkey.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:Interviews with the participantshave shown that the major causes of such difficulties stem from prospective teachers having a negative attitude about proofs, and the various shortcomings in learning and teaching proofs.
🔬Design:Research Article
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Mathematical proof · difficulties in proof · prospective mathematics teachers

Abstract

This research aims to expose prospective mathematics teachers’ difficulties while proving, as well as the reasons behind such difficulties. The research includes 121 second year undergraduate prospective teachers studying at the primary mathematics teaching department of a state university in Turkey. The study has found that prospective teachers had serious deficiencies in doing proof. The primary difficulty experienced by prospective teachers is expressing definitions. This difficulty is respectively followed by understanding theorem statement, using mathematical language and notations, selecting proper proof strategy and method, distinguishing concepts, creating a proof structure using definitions, and the difficulty of expressing thoughts. In addition, interviews have been conducted with seven prospective teachers representing each difficulty using semi-structured interview form. Interviews with the participantshave shown that the major causes of such difficulties stem from prospective teachers having a negative attitude about proofs, and the various shortcomings in learning and teaching proofs.

Özet

This research aims to expose prospective mathematics teachers’ difficulties while proving, as well as the reasons behind such difficulties. The research includes 121 second year undergraduate prospective teachers studying at the primary mathematics teaching department of a state university in Turkey. The study has found that prospective teachers had serious deficiencies in doing proof. The primary difficulty experiencedby prospective teachers is expressing definitions. This difficulty is respectively followed by understanding theorem statement, using mathematical language and notations, selecting proper proof strategy and method, distinguishing concepts, creating a proof structure using definitions, and the difficulty of expressing thoughts. In addition, interviews have been conducted with seven prospective teachers representing each difficulty using semi-structured interview form. Interviews with the participants have shown that the major causes of such difficulties stem from prospective teachers having a negative attitude about proofs, and the various shortcomings in learning and teaching proofs.

🔖

Cite This Article

DORUK, M., KAPLAN, A. (2016). PROSPECTIVE MATHEMATICS TEACHERS’ DIFFICULTIES IN DOING PROOFS AND CAUSES OF THEIR STRUGGLE WITH PROOFS. Bayburt Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, Cilt: 10 - Sayı: 2, 315–328. https://ajindex.com/articles/56004

📄 Full Text PDF Viewer

📄

PDF görüntüleyici hazırlanıyor...

References (11)

  1. Almeida, D. (2000). A survey of mathematics undergraduates interaction with proof: some implications for mathematics education. International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, 31(6), 869-890.
  2. Almeida, D. (2003). Engendering proof attitudes: Can the genesis of mathematical knowledge teach us anything? International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Education, 34(4), 479-488.
  3. Bayazıt, N. (2009). Prospective mathematics teachers’ use of mathematical definitions in doing proof (Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation). Florida State University, Florida. Conradie, J., & Frith, J. (2000). Comprehension tests in mathematics. Educational Studies in Mathematics, 42, 225-235.
  4. Coşkun, F. (2009). Reflections from the Experiences of 11th Graders during the Stages of Mathematical Thinking. Education and Science, 35(156), 17-31.
  5. De Villiers, M. (1990). The role and function of proof in mathematics. Pythagoras, 24, 17-24.
  6. Dickerson, D. S. (2008). High school mathematics teachers’ understandings of the purposes of mathematical proof (Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation). University of Syracuse. Doruk, M., & Kaplan, A. (2013a). Prospective primary mathematics teachers’ views about mathematical proof. Journal of Research in Education and Teaching, 2(1), 241-252.
  7. Doruk, M., & Kaplan, A. (2013b). Prospective primary mathematics teachers’ proof evaluation abilties on convergence of sequence concept. Journal of Research in Education and Teaching, 2(1), 231-240.
  8. Dreyfus, T. (1999). Why Johnny can’t prove. Educational studies in mathematics 38(1), 85-109.
  9. Fawcett, H. P. (1938). The nature of proof: a description and evaluation of certain procedures used in a senior high school to develop an understanding of the nature of proof. (NCTM year book 1938). New York: Teachers’ College, Columbia University. Furinghetti, F. and Morselli, F. (2009). Teachers’ beliefs and the teaching of proof. Proceedings of ICME Study 19: Proof and Proving in Mathematics Education, Taipei, Taiwan. Güler, G. (2013). Investigation of pre-service mathematics teachers’ proof processes in the learning domain of algebra (Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation). Ataturk University Institute of Education Sciences, Erzurum. Hanna, G. (1991). Mathematical proof. In D. Tall (Ed.), Advanced mathematical thinking. Hingham, MA: Kluwer Academic Publishers.
  10. Hanna, G. (2000). Proof, explanation and exploration: An overview. Educational Studies in Mathematics 44: 5–23.
  11. Harel, G., & Sowder, L. (