USING EDUCATION RESEARCH TO INFORM MATHEMATICS TEACHING IN A SCHOOL

Marj Horne
Australian Catholic University

Research has provided information about children’s understanding and misconceptions in number and algebra. The process of teachers collecting data to inform themselves about their students’ understanding through interview and other approaches, as well as providing a challenge to assist them in developing their own understanding of mathematics, can motivate and assist them to make decisions about their teaching and the approaches they use.

Teachers care about the learning of the children in their classes. They want to be good mathematics teachers and make a difference. Teachers overwhelmingly have a propensity to be caring teachers although caring does not necessarily lead to good teaching (Cooney, 1999). This caring is the main motivator of teachers in professional learning. It also means that engagement of teachers in particular professional learning is often contingent on their perception that the learning will improve their teaching thus making a difference to children’s learning.

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