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2013 Conference Proceedings - University of Nevada, Las Vegas

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students’ confidence. Because beliefs are socially and contextually constructed, many preserviceteachers’ views <strong>of</strong> teaching mathematics are consistent with the ways in which they experiencedmathematics learning (Ball, 1990; Cooney, 1999). For many preservice teachers, the beliefs theybring with them are created from an “apprenticeship <strong>of</strong> observation” (Anderson & Piazza, 1996)during their many years <strong>of</strong> schooling (Ball, 1988; Ball, 1996; Calderhead & Robson, 1991;Philipp, 2000). Consequently, it is possible that the culture <strong>of</strong> the classroom can contribute to theempowerment <strong>of</strong> pre-service teachers mathematically and pedagogically. This study sought toexplore the relationship between beliefs about mathematics and mathematics pedagogy and theimpact on preservice teacher empowerment as told from their perspective. This study sought tointentionally explain the participants’ experiences from their perspective as much as possible inthe vein <strong>of</strong> their own words.MethodologyThe Setting for the Study and the ParticipantsThe design <strong>of</strong> the course in which the study was conducted incorporated a view <strong>of</strong> preserviceteachers as social constructors <strong>of</strong> knowledge—as entering the teacher education programwith preconceived beliefs (and knowledge) about mathematics and mathematics teaching andlearning formed through an apprenticeship <strong>of</strong> observation during their formal education(Anderson & Piazz, 1996; Ball, 1988; Calderhead & Robson, 1991; Philipp, 2000). Instructionwas situated in a university level mathematics content course focused on number theory, sets,and functions among a reform model based upon conceptual rather than a procedural orientationwith a focus on meaning making, connections, patterns, justification, and dialogue. Because therelationship between reflection and perturbations are vital to change in teacher beliefs,perplexing classroom experiences were developed which evolved throughout the course <strong>of</strong> thestudy. The goal throughout this course was to provide an opportunity for a new kind <strong>of</strong>“apprenticeship <strong>of</strong> observation”, to develop “teachers’ ability and their desire to think seriously,deeply, and continuously about the purposes and consequences <strong>of</strong> what they do—about the waysin which their curriculum and teaching methods, classroom and school organization, testing andgrading procedures, affect purpose and are affected by it” (Silberman, 1970, pg. 472) as well asreflect on their own belief systems. The classroom did not follow a “traditional” format in thatlecture was eliminated as the primary form <strong>of</strong> instruction during classroom learning experiences.Instead, group work and active learning using manipulatives, pictures, and diagrams were the<strong>Proceedings</strong> <strong>of</strong> the 40 th Annual Meeting <strong>of</strong> the Research Council on Mathematics Learning <strong>2013</strong> 62

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