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University of Connecticut

Problem solving

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Problem Solving Abilities And Perceptions In Alternative Certification Mathematics Teachers, Brian R. Evans Oct 2012

Problem Solving Abilities And Perceptions In Alternative Certification Mathematics Teachers, Brian R. Evans

NERA Conference Proceedings 2012

The purpose of this study was to understand alternative certification middle and high school teachers’ mathematical problem solving abilities and perceptions. Participants were given a problem solving examination and required to reflect upon their students’ and their own problem solving. Findings revealed there was a significant improvement in problem solving abilities for the teachers over the course of the semester, and there was a direct correlation between content knowledge and problem solving ability. Teachers perceived their students’ problem solving abilities as generally weak due to not understanding how to start a problem, lack of persistence, and poor literacy skills.


Eliciting Student Judgments Of Intrinsic Difficulty For Studying Student Misconceptions In Solving Basic Mathematics Items, Eric Magaram, Jean Phanor, Charles Secolsky, Preston Hasbrouck Oct 2011

Eliciting Student Judgments Of Intrinsic Difficulty For Studying Student Misconceptions In Solving Basic Mathematics Items, Eric Magaram, Jean Phanor, Charles Secolsky, Preston Hasbrouck

NERA Conference Proceedings 2011

The misconceptions of developmental mathematics students in solving basic arithmetic problems are becoming a national crisis. If instructors better understood the conceptions that students have that lead to incorrect responses when solving arithmetic problems, instruction of the material presented to the students may improve. Four groups of five students were given five basic math questions for a total of 20 questions, and the only instructions the students were given was to solve the problems out loud and to please continue talking. Their answers were transcribed and the student responses were used to create solution strategies for each of the 20 …


Elementary Teachers’ Mathematical Content Knowledge, Efficacy, And Problem Solving Abilities In Alternative Certification, Brian R. Evans Oct 2011

Elementary Teachers’ Mathematical Content Knowledge, Efficacy, And Problem Solving Abilities In Alternative Certification, Brian R. Evans

NERA Conference Proceedings 2011

The purpose of this study was to understand teachers’ mathematical content knowledge, self-efficacy, problem solving abilities, and teacher beliefs in an elementary education mathematics methods course for special education teachers in the New York City Teaching Fellows and Teach for America alternative certification programs. Findings revealed a significant increase in mathematical knowledge and self-efficacy. Additionally, teachers were found to have high self-efficacy and strong problem solving abilities. Teachers generally found that helping students with disabilities learn mathematics was the biggest issue in their teaching, and that the use of technology and manipulatives were the most important topics in their learning.