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Science and Mathematics Education Commons

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Full-Text Articles in Science and Mathematics Education

Rural Stem Teachers: An Oasis In The Desert, Ryan G. Zonnefeld, Valorie L. Zonnefeld Jan 2022

Rural Stem Teachers: An Oasis In The Desert, Ryan G. Zonnefeld, Valorie L. Zonnefeld

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

Teacher preparation programs for STEM education should prepare teachers for all settings, including rural schools. Students across geographic locales show equal interest in STEM fields, but rural students often lack access to highly qualified STEM teachers. UNESCO (2014) notes that the disparity in education between rural and urban schools is a concern of many countries. In the United States, the National Center for Educational Statistics confirms that twenty percent of students are educated in rural schools and the STEM teachers in these schools are often the only STEM expert. These teachers become backbone teachers that set the foundation and direction …


Pedagogies That Foster A Growth Mindset Towards Mathematics, Valorie L. Zonnefeld Jan 2022

Pedagogies That Foster A Growth Mindset Towards Mathematics, Valorie L. Zonnefeld

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Research demonstrates that a student’s mindset plays an important role in achievement and that mindsets are domain specific. Carol Dweck claimed that mathematics needs a mindset makeover and has shown that teachers can foster a growth mindset through their pedagogical choices. This paper shares how one university trains preservice teachers in mathematics pedagogies that are key to fostering a growth mindset. These practices include educating students on brain function, equitable access, metacognition strategies, feedback practices, the importance of productive struggle, and learning from mistakes.