Developing Pre-service Mathematics Teachers' Metacognitive Thinking for Learning and Teaching with Mobile Technology

Year 2018, Volume: 9 , 239 - 249, 18.08.2018

Wajeeh Daher Nimer Baya'a Otman Jaber Ahlam Anabousy

Abstract

In the present
study, we report the preparation of 24 pre-service teachers who were in their
third academic year, majoring in teaching mathematics and computer science in
the middle school, for using metacognition in their mathematical problem
solving. We used different tools to collect data: The pre-service teachers'
solutions' texts of carrying out activities on solving authentic real life
mathematical problems that emphasize metacognitive processes, the pre-service
teachers' texts for the design and preparation of such activities that
encourage students' metacognitive processes, interviews with the pre-service
teachers, the discussion texts in the social network sites and observations of
the implementation of activities. To analyze the data, we used the constant
comparison method. The research findings indicated that the participating
pre-service teachers developed their metacognitive skills as learners at the beginning
and then as teachers. This development as teachers included two aspects:
activity design and activity implementation. In addition, we describe a
preparation model that included different phases starting from the theoretical
phase and ending in a reflection phase, where some parts of these phases are
cyclic. We concluded that it is possible to educate pre-service teachers for
metacognitive practices, as learners and as teachers. To succeed in this
education, the pre-service teachers need to solve activities that emphasize
metacognitive skills, to design such activities, to teach them, to discuss
their practices, and to reflect on the whole sequence of metacognitive
processes. Special attention was given to using mobile technology in solving
authentic real life mathematical problems and to collaborative learning.  

Keywords

Professional development, Preparation model, Pre-service teachers, Pre-service teachers preparation, Mathematics teachers, Metacognitive thinking

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