Open Journal Systems

Understanding word problems: Pre-service math teacher proficiency

Rommel ALALI, Yousef Wardat, Mamdouh Helali, Nermien Alshraifin

Article ID: 2812
Vol 9, Issue 7, 2024, Article identifier:

VIEWS - 275 (Abstract) 140 (PDF)

Abstract

Mathematics holds a pivotal role in education, empowering students to apply mathematical principles across various domains. This study investigates the proficiency of 100 pre-service mathematics teachers enrolled in a Bachelor of Science with Education (Mathematics) Honors program at Yarmouk University in identifying content and context within mathematical word problems. Employing a case study approach and utilizing the Mathematics Word Problems Test and the Content and Context Questionnaire, the research underscores challenges in error detection and content comprehension. Pre-service mathematics teachers exhibited difficulties recognizing inaccuracies, emphasizing the importance of integrating practical context and enhancing critical thinking in pre-service teacher education. This study advocates for further research to develop strategies addressing these challenges and fostering a more holistic approach to mathematical problem-solving.


Keywords

mathematics education; pre-service teachers; mathematical word problems; content and context in mathematics; critical thinking in teacher education

Full Text:

PDF



References

1. Zakariya, Y. F., & Wardat, Y. (2023). Job satisfaction of mathematics teachers: An empirical investigation to quantify the contributions of teacher self-efficacy and teacher motivation to teach. Mathematics Education Research Journal. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13394-023-00475-9

2. Wardat, Y., Jarrah, A. M., & Stoica, G. (2021). Understanding the meaning of the equal sign: A case study of middle school students in the United Arab Emirates. European Journal of Educational Research, 10(3), 1505-1514. https://doi.org/10.12973/eu-jer.10.3.1505

3. Wijaya, A., van den Heuvel-Panhuizen, M., & Doorman, M. (2015). Opportunity-to-learn context-based tasks provided by mathematics textbooks. Educational Studies in Mathematics, 89, 41-65. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10649-015-9595-1

4. Saleh, S. F., Purwanto, P., Sudirman, S., & Hidayanto, E. (2020). Pre-Service Elementary School Teachers' Awareness of Posing Mathematical Pseudo-Problems. TEM Journal, 9(3). https://doi.org/10.18421/TEM93-54

5. Hidayat, R., & Wardat, Y. (2023). A systematic review of Augmented Reality in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics education. Education and Information Technologies. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-023-12157-x

6. Erbilgin, E. (2017). A comparison of the mathematical processes embedded in the content standards of Turkey and Singapore. Research in Social Sciences and Technology, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.46303/ressat.02.01.3

7. Allsopp, D. H., Kyger, M. M., & Lovin, L. H. (2007). Teaching Mathematics Meaningfully: Solutions for Reaching Struggling Learners. Brookes Publishing Company.

8. Jarrah, A. M., Wardat, Y., & Gningue, S. (2022). Misconception on addition and subtraction of fractions in seventh-grade middle school students. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 18(6), em2115. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/12070

9. Gningue, S. M., Peach, R., Jarrah, A. M., & Wardat, Y. (2022). The relationship between teacher leadership and school climate: Findings from a teacher-leadership project. Education Sciences, 12(11), 749. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci12110749

10. Emran, A. B. A., Shahrill, M., & Asamoah, D. (2023). KNOWS strategy in action: Solving word problems involving ratios. Asian Journal for Mathematics Education, 2(3), 299-324. https://doi.org/10.1177/27527263231197244

11. Tashtoush, M. A., AlAli, R., Wardat, Y., Alshraifin, N., & Toubat, H. (2023). The Impact of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)-Based Education on the Mathematics Academic Enthusiasm. Journal of Educational and Social Research, 13(3), 284. https://doi.org/10.36941/jesr-2023-0077

12. Isik, C., & Kar, T. (2012). The analysis of the problems posed by the pre-service teachers about equations. Australian Journal of Teacher Education, 37(9), 93-113. https://doi.org/10.14221/ajte.2012v37n9.1

13. Prayitno, L. L., Purwanto, P., Subanji, S., & Susiswo, S. (2018). Identification Errors of Problem Posed by Prospective Primary Teachers About Fraction Based Meaning Structure. International Journal of Insights for Mathematics Teaching, 1(1), 76-84.

14. Kilic, C. (2015). Analyzing Pre-Service Primary Teachers’ Fraction Knowledge Structures through Problem Posing. EURASIA Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 11(6), 1603-1619. https://doi.org/10.12973/eurasia.2015.1425a

15. Jarrah, A. M., Khasawneh, O. M., & Wardat, Y. (2020). Implementing pragmatism and John Dewey’s educational philosophy in Emirati elementary schools: Case of mathematics and science teachers. International Journal of Education Economics and Development, 11(1), 58. https://doi.org/10.1504/ijeed.2020.104287

16. Alneyadi, S., Abulibdeh, E., & Wardat, Y. (2023). The impact of digital environment vs. traditional method on literacy skills; reading and writing of Emirati fourth graders. Sustainability, 15(4), 3418. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15043418https://doi.org/10.30935/cedtech/13417

17. AlAli, R., Wardat, Y., & Al-Qahtani, M. (2023). SWOM strategy and influence of its using on developing mathematical thinking skills and on metacognitive thinking among gifted tenth-grade students. EURASIA Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 19(3), em2238.

18. Wardat, Y., Belbase, S., Tairab, H., Takriti, R., Efstratopoulou, M., & Dodeen, H. (2023). The influence of student factors on students’ achievement in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study in Abu Dhabi Emirate Schools. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1168032. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1168032

19. Alneyadi, S., & Wardat, Y. (2023). The Impact of Digital Environment vs. Traditional Method on Literacy Skills; Reading and Writing of Emirati Fourth Graders. Sustainability, 15, 3418. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15043418

20. Tashtoush, M. A., Wardat, Y., Aloufi, F., & Taani, O. (2022). The effectiveness of teaching method based on the components of concept-rich instruction approach in students achievement on linear algebra course and their attitudes towards mathematics. Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice, 22(7). https://doi.org/10.33423/jhetp.v22i7.5269

21. Stoica, G., & Wardat, Y. (2021). An inequality can change everything. The American Mathematical Monthly, 128(9), 810. https://doi.org/10.1080/00029890.2021.1949218

22. Khalil, I., Hashim, R., Wardat, Y., & Alasmari, N. (2023). Exploring Primary School Mathematics Teachers' Strategies for Enhancing Students' Mathematical Writing Skills. Journal of Educational and Social Research, 13(4), 196. https://doi.org/10.36941/jesr-2023-0102

23. Wijaya, A., van den Heuvel-Panhuizen, M., & Doorman, M. (2015). Opportunity-to-learn context-based tasks provided by mathematics textbooks. Educational Studies in Mathematics, 89, 41-65. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10649-015-9595-1

24. Alneyadi, S., Wardat, Y., Alshannag, Q., & Abu-Al-Aish, A. (2023). The effect of using smart e-learning app on the academic achievement of eighth-grade students. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 19(4), em2248. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/13067

25. Kilic, C. (2015). Analyzing Pre-Service Primary Teachers’ Fraction Knowledge Structures through Problem Posing. EURASIA Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 11(6), 1603-1619. https://doi.org/10.12973/eurasia.2015.1425a

26. Zhou, Z., Ning, M., Wang, Q., Yao, J., Wang, W., Huang, X., & Huang, K. (2023). Learning by Analogy: Diverse Questions Generation in Math Word Problem. arXiv preprint arXiv:2306.09064. https://doi.org/10.18653/v1/2023.findings-acl.705

27. Amalia, K., & Nuriadin, I. (2023). Analysis of Students' Mathematical Literacy Ability on Sequences and Series Material Through The Application of Problem Based Learning. Mathline: Jurnal Matematika dan Pendidikan Matematika, 8(3), 1057-1076. https://doi.org/10.31943/mathline.v8i3.478

28. Divrik, R. (2023). Effect of Teaching Mathematics Supported by Problem-posing Strategies on Problem-posing Skills. International Journal of Modern Education Studies, 7(2).

29. Engle, M. (2015). Book review: Qualitative data analysis: A methods sourcebook: The coding manual for qualitative researchers.

30. Clements, D. H., & Sarama, J. (2023). Rethinking STEM in the Elementary Grades. American Educator, 17.

31. Koichu, B., Harel, G., & Manaster, A. (2013). Ways of thinking associated with mathematics teachers’ problem posing in the context of division of fractions. Instructional Science, 41, 681-698. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11251-012-9254-1

32. Tran, T., Phan, H., Le, H., & Nguyen, H. (2020). ICT integration in developing competence for pre-service mathematics teachers: A case study from six universities in Vietnam. International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning (iJET), 15(14), 19-34.

33. Yang, X., Kaiser, G., König, J., & Blömeke, S. (2020). Relationship between pre-service mathematics teachers’ knowledge, beliefs and instructional practices in China. ZDM, 52, 281-294. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11858-020-01145-x

34. Dewi, I. L. K., & Asnawati, S. (2019). Relationship among pre-service teacher conception of geometry and teaching skills. In Journal of Physics: Conference Series (Vol. 1280, No. 4, p. 042042). IOP Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1280/4/042042

35. Pagiling, S. L., Tembang, Y., Palobo, M. (2020). Analysis of Pre-service Primary Teachers' Difficulties In Solving Word Problem. In Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Learning Innovation and Quality Education (pp. 1-5). https://doi.org/10.1145/3452144.3452250

36. Tashtoush, M. A., Wardat, Y., Aloufi, F., & Taani, O. (2022). The effect of a training program based on TIMSS to developing the levels of habits of mind and mathematical reasoning skills among pre-service mathematics teachers. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 18(11), em2182. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/12557

37. Pongsakdi, N., Kajamies, A., Veermans, K., Lertola, K., Vauras, M., & Lehtinen, E. (2020). What makes mathematical word problem solving challenging? Exploring the roles of word problem characteristics, text comprehension, and arithmetic skills. ZDM, 52, 33-44. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11858-019-01118-9

38. Tashtoush, M. A., Wardat, Y., & Elsayed, A. M. (2023). Mathematics distance learning and learning loss during COVID-19 pandemic: Teachers’ perspectives. Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice, 23(5). https://doi.org/10.33423/jhetp.v23i5.5933

39. Özsoy, G. (2018). Pre-service teachers’ use of visual representations. International Electronic Journal of Elementary Education, 11(1), 49-54. https://doi.org/10.26822/iejee.2018143960

40. Faradillah, A., Hadi, W., & Tsurayya, A. (2018). Pre-service mathematics teachers’ reasoning ability in solving mathematical non-routine problem according to cognitive style. In Journal of Physics: Conference Series (Vol. 948, p. 012006). IOP Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/948/1/012006

41. Barham, A. I. (2020). Investigating the Development of Pre-Service Teachers' Problem-Solving Strategies via Problem-Solving Mathematics Classes. European Journal of Educational Research, 9(1), 129-141. https://doi.org/10.12973/eu-jer.9.1.129

42. Brown, J. P. (2019). Real-World Task Context: Meanings and Roles. In Stillman, G., & Brown, J. (Eds.), Lines of Inquiry in Mathematical Modelling Research in Education. ICME-13 Monographs. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-14931-4_4

43. Ben-Chaim, D., Keret, Y., & Ilany, B. S. (2007). Designing and implementing authentic investigative proportional reasoning tasks: The impact on pre-service mathematics teachers’ content and pedagogical knowledge and attitudes. Journal of Mathematics Teacher Education, 10, 333-340. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10857-007-9052-x

44. Wardat, Y., Tashtoush, M., AlAli, R., & Saleh, S. (2024). Artificial intelligence in education: Mathematics teachers’ perspectives, practices and challenges. Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics, 5(1), 60-77.


DOI: https://doi.org/10.59429/esp.v9i7.2812
(275 Abstract Views, 140 PDF Downloads)

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2024 Rommel ALALI, Yousef Ahmed Wardat, Mamdouh Helali

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.