Education Commons^™

Analyzing The Impact Of An Informal Mathematics Teaching Experience On Preservice Teacher Mathematics Teaching Self-Efficacy, Kayla Fruth

Honors Projects

A teacher’s sense of efficacy is their belief in their capability to successfully accomplish a specific task. Teachers with a high sense of efficacy exert more effort, persistence, and commitment to teaching, which leads to higher student achievement and attitudes. The purpose of this study is to determine how participation in an informal mathematics teaching experience impacts preservice teachers’ sense of mathematics teaching self-efficacy. This research was conducted at one informal mathematics teaching experience, during which, all participants completed pre-surveys and post-surveys rating their mathematics teaching self-efficacy using the MTEBI. Later, some participants were interviewed to gain insight into their …

In Their Words: Prospective Teachers' Experiences As A Context For Investigating Their Views Of Authority In A Mathematics Classroom, Brenda Lynn Rosencrans

Dissertations and Theses

Mathematics teacher educators enact inquiry-based preparatory courses with the underlying expectation that their students (prospective teachers) will take ownership (authority) of their mathematical learning through sharing their ideas and collaboratively discussing the reasonableness of their shared ideas. Yet, prospective teacher' expectations are often not yet in alignment with those of mathematics teacher educators, instead they enter these courses expecting their instructors to provide clear examples and directions for how to solve mathematics problems. This project investigates this dynamic through an authority lens, seeking to understand and characterize different views of authority prospective teachers hold and the impact these views have …

Connecting Confidence To College Mathematics And High School Ability Tracks, Kaleb Wourms

Honors Projects

Ability tracking within mathematics education is commonplace in American high schools. Some feel that students’ ability tracks act as a predictor for their success in university mathematics. Research has shown that many factors, such as socioeconomic status and more, have substantial effects on student success. The purpose of this study was to further investigate variables related to success in university mathematics. Confidence in mathematics is one factor in student performance that is particularly under-researched. This research investigated the relationship between ability tracking in high school mathematics, student confidence level, and performance in university mathematics. Data was gathered via a survey. …

Investigating Boredom Within The Context Of Sixth-Grade Mathematics Classes, Tammy S. Judkins

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation examined how the perception of the achievement-emotion of boredom impacted the academic agency of sixth-grade mathematics students. The study for this dissertation was completed during the Covid 19 pandemic. Through an explanatory sequential mixed methods study, sixth-grade mathematics student volunteers from a Midwest middle school responded to survey items on achievement-emotions as well as shared their perspectives about their perception of boredom in three mathematics settings: classroom, studying and/or independent learning, and testing. Eleven of the 69 sixth-grade mathematic students participated in three rounds of data collection: the AEQ-M Survey, homogenous focus group discussions, and individual interviews. A …

Understanding Pre-Service Elementary Mathematics Teacher Learning In An Early Lesson Study Experience, Christopher Dennis Nazelli

Wayne State University Dissertations

As the most important in-school factor in student learning, elementary school teachers must be able to offer all students the quality mathematical learning experiences that they deserve; and the opportunities to learn that pre-service teachers (PSTs) encounter during their preparation programs impact their ability to do so. Content courses are crucial components of the mathematical education of elementary teachers and can be sites for the early development of Mathematical Knowledge for Teaching (MKT) (Ball, Thames, & Phelps, 2008). These courses, often taken early in their preparation programs, can provide PSTs opportunities to create a new vision of mathematics, build new …

The Effect Of Using Technology On Students’ Understanding In Calculus And College Algebra, Razieh Shahriari

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This mixed qualitative and quantitative methods study addressed the effect of technology on college algebra and survey of calculus students’ understanding. This research study was conducted in fall 2016 on eight college algebra classes with a total of 315 students, and in summer 2017, on two survey of calculus classes with a total of 40 students at the University of Arkansas.

Several sources were used to collect data. A pre- and post- student attitude survey was administered during the first and last week of the semester for both college algebra and survey of calculus courses. Students’ scores and paper work …

Examining General Educators' Instructional Practices Teaching Mathematics To K-8 Students With Disabilities, Kendra Michelle Cumberland

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A disparity in the mathematics performance between students with disabilities (SWDs) and students without disabilities in K-8 grades in international schools may lead to a lack of opportunities for SWDs to take advanced mathematics classes and enter mathematics-related college programs and careers. This problem may be increased if K-8 teachers of SWDs do not use social-constructivist-based practices needed for effective mathematics teaching. The purpose of this bounded qualitative exploratory case study was to explore the constructivist-based practices teachers applied in the mathematics K-8 classrooms for SWDs. Vygotsky's social-constructivism theory was used to guide this study. The research question addressed which …

A Case Study: Number Apps In Preschool, Amy Beth Adkins

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

iPads are increasingly present in education. This research explores their role developing fundamental mathematics concepts. It investigates preschoolers’ interactions with mathematics apps, and affordances and constraints accessed. It was conducted over fourteen weeks; students played mathematics apps for thirty minutes a week. The qualitative case study design included participants who varied in mathematics and technological skill. Data was collected through assessments, interviews, questionnaires, videotapes, and artifacts. Results determined that students access constraints or affordances based on ability level. Findings indicate iPads are beneficial tools for preschool classrooms. Preschoolers showed an increase in math ability when using iPads.

Exploring Teachers' Self-Efficacy About Technology Use In Learning Design And Student Performance In Mathematics: A Qualitative Study About Math Anxiety, Sandra B. Vorensky

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore teachers' perceived self-efficacy about mathematics and using educational technology and its influence on lessening students' math anxiety in the classroom. Building upon previous research by Sun and Pyzdrowski (2009), this study examined teachers' beliefs about mathematics and their own ability to use online educational mathematics resources to lessen students' math anxiety, increase self-efficacy and encourage academic achievement. A qualitative research design was used in this study. Data was collected sequentially from teacher observations during math instruction, surveys, and semi-structured interviews with third and fourth grade teachers. Results support previous self-efficacy research about …

The Impact Of Tracking Students In Mathematics On Middle School Student Achievement Outcomes, David P. Glasner

ETD Archive

The purpose of this study was to explore whether and how tracking structures in mathematics courses at the middle school level relate to differences in achievement between white and black students. This study used propensity score matching to compare the achievement outcomes of students enrolled in advanced mathematics classes, with students of comparable ability and background enrolled in grade-level math classes. The study sample was comprised of 1,510 students. Results from the study show that enrollment in an advanced-math course was associated with statistically significant improvement in math achievement for average-ability students. In addition, study results show that increases in …

Using Data Mining To Model Student Achievement On The 4th Grade Timss 2015 Mathematics Assessment: A Five Nation Sudy, Annette M. Siemssen

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Data mining has been successfully used by financial and retail companies since the mid-1960's to create predictive models and reveal unexpected relationships. However, it remains underutilized as a tool in educational research. Large-scale standardized assessment programs such as the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) provide vast amounts of data with the potential for providing new insights in education. Five nations, the Republic of Korea, the United States, Germany, Kuwait, and Kazakhstan were selected based on General Response Style theory to represent a spectrum of cultural backgrounds, from acquiescent to midpoint to individualistic (Hastedt, D. & van de …

Supporting Black And Brown Females’ Stem Identity Construction Through Mathematics Teacher Noticing: A Mixed Methods Study, Carolyn Gardner

Doctoral Dissertations

The current study explores the nature of the relationship between a teacher’s experiences and her pedagogical practices that are oriented to support female students of color identity construction in relation to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) studies and careers. The narratives and class observations of the female mathematics teacher of color who is a STEM career changer were used to identify ways in which the teacher’s lived experiences supported her mathematics teacher noticing and influenced her adaptive teaching practices. Student surveys and individual student focal interviews were analyzed to assess the students’ perceptions of the teacher’s support and their …

Readin', Writin', An' 'Rithmetic: Literacy Strategies In High School Mathematics, Angela Margaret Principato

Wayne State University Dissertations

Stagnant growth on national standardized tests in mathematics and reading and a focus on disciplinary literacy in the Common Core State Standards in ELA, history/social studies, science, and technical subjects has prompted a resurgence in utilizing literacy strategies in the content areas in high school. While literacy standards in mathematics are not explicitly identified in the Common Core State Standards, there may be a place for the use of literacy strategies in high school mathematics. This study explored the relationships between students’ mathematics and reading achievement scores at a small, suburban high school and the implementation of a school wide …

Teacher Challenges In Implementing Cognitively Demanding Tasks In The Mathematics And Science Classrooms, Angelica Monarrez Monarrez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This mixed methods study examines secondary school mathematics and science teachersâ?? understanding of cognitive demand and the challenges in implementing tasks at different levels of cognitive demand. The conceptual framework for this study is grounded on the conception of cognitive demand proposed by Stein, Smith, Henningsen, and Silver (2000), which includes the following levels: memorization (level 1), procedures without connections (level 2), procedures with connections (level 3), and doing mathematics and science (level 4). The study attempts to address the following research questions: 1) To what extent are secondary mathematics and science teachers able to recognize, solve and construct tasks …

Using The 2011-12 Schools And Staffing Survey, Restricted File Version, To Identify Factors Associated With The Intent For African American Math Teachers To Turnover, Bisola Neil

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Using data from the 2011-12 Schools and Staffing Survey, Restricted File Version, this study examines the factors that place African American teachers of mathematics at risk for turnover using Lynham’s General Model of Applied Theory Building methodology. Univariate statistical analysis found that of the three million plus public school teachers in the United States during the 2011-12 school year, 161,360 were certified math teachers were teaching mathematics full time and 11,070 of these teachers were African American. By centering this empirical study of turnover on the African American math teacher, this dissertation highlights turnover factors that uniquely impact African American …

African American Urban Public High School Graduates’ Experiences Concerning Mathematics, Lorenzo A. Rashid

ETD Archive

This interpretive qualitative study explored African American urban public high school graduates’ experiences concerning mathematics, how these experiences may play a role in the choice to further their mathematics education, and how the Model of Academic Choice (MAC) may facilitate in the understanding of the experiences.

It examined the lived experiences of seven African American urban public high school graduates concerning their mathematics education. Through criterion-based sampling, the seven participants selected had graduated from a public high school located in Northeast Ohio school districts having similar characteristics.

Data were collected through semi-structured interviews that explored participants’ kindergarten through post-secondary mathematics …

A Case Study Of An African American Community's Perceptions Of Problems In Mathematics Education, Renee Jenkins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American students across income classes have been found to struggle with mathematics, impeding their ability to complete college, pursue lucrative careers, and address socioeconomic problems. Using the tenets of liberation and critical race theory, this qualitative case study explored the perceptions of a small group of 8 African American adults as to what they believe to be the root causes of mathematics achievement disparity for African American K-14 students, and what role the African American community can play in ameliorating these disparities. As most related studies are on low income communities, this study focused on an affluent African American …

The Influence Of Types Of Homework On Opportunity To Learn And Students' Mathematics Achievement: Examples From The University Of Chicago School Mathematics Project, Yiting Yu

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Public views on assigning students mathematics homework have been controversial. Although homework is designed for students to complete during non-school hours (Cooper, 1989), many see homework as excessive pressure on students. Most research placed their focus on the influence of the time spent on homework or the amount of homework on student achievement. Few studies have addressed the impact of types of mathematics homework. The purpose of this study is to examine the role of homework types in influencing opportunity to learn (OTL) on student achievement.

This quantitative study used subsets of a large existing dataset collected by University …

The Effectiveness Of Manipulatives In A High School Algebra Ii Class, Brooke Elizabeth Bruins

Online Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the use of manipulatives in high school Algebra II. The effectiveness of the Concrete-Representational-Abstract (CRA) Model is compared to explicit instruction. The participants in this study are students from six high school Algebra II classes -two honors classes, and four standard classes. One honors class and two standard classes were randomly selected as the treatment groups receiving CRA instruction. The other three classes learned through abstract explicit instruction. Each class learned two new mathematical concepts, domain and range of quadratic functions and transformations of quadratic functions, through the selected method of instruction. At the end of instruction, …

Preparing Teachers To Apply Research To Mathematics Teaching: Using Design-Based Research To Define And Assess The Process Of Evidence-Based Practice, Sarah Van Ingen

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Persistent lack of mathematics achievement and disparity in achievement has led to the publication of research findings related to equitable teaching practices. Although the publication of such research provides insights about approaches for potentially increasing equity in mathematics education, teachers must be able to apply what has been learned from these studies to their classroom teaching practices. Despite the widespread expectation that teachers use research-supported teaching strategies to meet the needs of their diverse classrooms, the research to practice gap persists. Little research is currently available to guide mathematics teacher educators in how to prepare future teachers to apply research …

The Impact Of Teachers' Characteristics And Self-Reported Practices On Students' Algebra Achievement, Liza Cope

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This study examined the impact of teachers' characteristics and self-reported practices on students' Algebra achievement while controlling for students' characteristics. This study is based on the secondary analysis of data collected from a nationally representative sample of 9th grade students and their mathematics teachers during the base year of the High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 (HSLS). Student and teacher data were obtained through questionnaires and students' Algebra achievement was measured by an ability-adaptive assessment designed to measure a cross-section of understandings representative of the six major Algebraic content domains (The language of algebra; Proportional relationships and change; Linear equations, …

A Descriptive, Survey Research Study Of The Student Characteristics Influencing The Four Theoretical Sources Of Mathematical Self-Efficacy Of College Freshmen, Tonja Motley Locklear

Theses and Dissertations--Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education

The Sources of Middle School Mathematics Self-Efficacy Scale (Usher & Pajares, 2009) was adapted for use in this study investigating the impact that gender, race, sexual orientation, hometown location (rural, suburban, or urban), high school GPA, college GPA and letter grade of a mathematics course in the previous semester had on the four sources of mathematical self-efficacy of 102 college freshmen attending three small, private, liberal arts institutions. Even though this study found no interaction effects between the student characteristics, the four sources of mathematical self-efficacy, or the three subcategories of the vicarious experience construct, this study did find statistically …

Exploring The Relationship Between Orpda And Teachers' Conceptual Understanding Of Place Value, Jamie Howard Price

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this case study was to understand whether or not the use of an invented number system, called Orpda, helped teachers develop a deeper understanding of place value in hopes that this will translate into their own teaching of place value concepts. Thirteen teachers enrolled in a graduate mathematics education course served as the participants for this study. Data were collected from teachers’ reflections on various activities related to Orpda, pre- and post-Orpda concept maps teachers created, online discussions between the teachers, teacher demographic sheets, and an interview with the instructor of the course.

Analysis of the teachers' …

Assessment Of College Students' Understanding Of The Equals Relation: Development And Validation Of An Instrument, Gregory D. Wheeler

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Research indicates that many elementary students do not comprehend that the equal sign is an indication that an equality relation exists between two structures. Instead, they perceive the equal sign as an indication that a particular procedure is to be performed. As students mature, and as their exposure to the equal sign and equality relations in multiple contexts increases, most obtain the ability to interpret the equal sign as an indicator of an equivalence relation. Incorrect usages of the equal sign, however, by post-algebra students indicate a tendency for students to regress back to a comprehension of the equal sign …

Probing For Reasons: Presentations, Questions, Phases, Kellyn Nicole Farlow

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis reports on a research study based on data from experimental teaching. Students were invited, through real-world problem tasks that raised central conceptual issues, to invent major ideas of calculus. This research focuses on work and thinking of the students, as they sought to build key ideas, representations and compelling lines of reasoning. This focus on the students' and their agency as learners has brought about a new development of the psychological and logical perspectives, as well as, highlighted students' choices in academic and social roles. Such choices facilitated continued learning among these students.

Applying Toulmin's Argumentation Framework To Explanations In A Reform Oriented Mathematics Class, Jennifer Alder Brinkerhoff

Theses and Dissertations

This study looks at conceptual explanations given in a reform-oriented mathematics class for preservice secondary mathematics teachers and extends Toulmin's argumentation framework to account for some of the complexities of the explanations given by these students. This study explains the complexities that arose in applying Toulmin's framework to explanations and extends the framework by accounting for the features of conceptual explanations. The complexities of these explanations are that they are made up of multiple arguments that build on each other to reach a final conclusion and that they are also dependant upon the social aspects of the class in which …

Students' Epistemological Beliefs Of Mathematics When Taught Using Traditional Versus Reform Curricula In Rural Maine High Schools, Glenn T. Colby

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study compared students’ epistemological beliefs of mathematics after completing 3 years of a reform-oriented curriculum developed by the Core-Plus Mathematics Project (CPMP) versus a more traditional curriculum developed by Glencoe Mathematics. The Conceptions of Mathematics Inventory (CMI; Grouws, Howald, & Colangelo, 1996) was administered to 11th-grade students in four rural Maine high schools (n=102) to measure student beliefs of mathematics. CPMP was used as the primary textbook series in 2 of the schools, while the other 2 schools used Glencoe Mathematics. A variation of the Reformed Teaching Observation Protocol (RTOP; Piburn & Sawada, 2000) and teacher questionnaires were used …

Second Graders' Solution Strategies And Understanding Of A Combination Problem, Tiffany Marie Hessing

Theses and Dissertations

I inquire about second graders' capabilities of developing solution strategies and the original variety of strategies they bring forth while solving a combination problem. Based on analysis of the data presented in this paper, students developed five different general strategies. After analyzing what the second grade students were capable of developing, we can conclude that young children are capable of developing powerful systematic strategies grounded in their personal experiences. This research shows that even when the teacher does not foster personal agency, children will still exercise agency. The social interactions in the classroom helped students learn to propose mathematical ideas, …

Classroom Mathematical Practices In A Preservice Elementary Mathematics Education Course Using An Instructional Sequence Related, Janet Andreasen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study documents a classroom teaching experiment in a semester-long undergraduate mathematics education course for 16 prospective elementary school teachers. The purpose of this study was to investigate how social aspects of the classroom environment facilitated the collective mathematical learning of place value and whole number operations by preservice elementary school teachers. Design-based research methodology was used for formulating the study. A hypothetical learning trajectory and instructional sequence related to place value and operations were created and refined in the two semesters prior to this study. The instructional sequence was in its third iteration for this study. The developmental …

Materials To Supplement An Individualized Mathematics Program, Virginia Condon

All Graduate Projects

This project represents an attempt to develop some materials to supplement the Addison-Wesley Mathematics Program for Grade 2. The commercial program, as it stands, is conceptually sound. Operationally, however, it in many cases did not satisfactorily meet the needs of the individual students of the classroom.

Therefore, the basic material was retained (i.e., student workbooks, teacher's manual, unit tests). Materials have been developed which allow some individualization in the presentation of the concepts, self-pacing by the student, testing devices, working conditions, manipulative materials, and follow-up worksheets. These terms are further explained in the pages that follow, as well as their …