Research Article

What Drives Teachers’ Instructional Decisions?: An Exploration of Knowledge and Beliefs

Volume: 23 Number: Özel Sayı March 26, 2022
TR EN

What Drives Teachers’ Instructional Decisions?: An Exploration of Knowledge and Beliefs

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of knowledge and beliefs on an elementary teacher's instructional decisions and whether one of these factors is more prominent in making those decisions. The teacher implemented a unit about fractions, which was designed based on a constructivist approach, yet he did not fully commit to using the ideas promoted in the unit. In order to find out the reasons behind his instructional decisions that caused this disparity, his mathematical knowledge for teaching, mathematical beliefs and self-efficacy beliefs were investigated by using a survey and a semi-structured interview. The results showed that he had different set of beliefs about learning and teaching mathematics compared to the underlying beliefs of which the unit was designed by. Also, he held strong self-efficacy beliefs about his teaching and his knowledge of mathematics even though the results from the survey proved otherwise. In sum, his strong self-efficacy beliefs appeared to dominate his decisions about mathematics instruction in his classroom.

Keywords

References

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  2. Beswick, K. (2005). The beliefs/practice connection in broadly defined contexts. Mathematics Education Research Journal, 17(2), 39-68.
  3. Beswick, K. (2012). Teachers’ beliefs about school mathematics and mathematicians' mathematics and their relationship to practice. Educational Studies in Mathematics, 79(1), 127-147.
  4. Borko, H., & Shavelson, R. J. (1990). Teacher decision making. Dimensions of thinking and cognitive instruction, 311-346.
  5. Cai, J., & Wang, T. (2010). Conceptions of effective mathematics teaching within a cultural context: perspectives of teachers from China and the United States. Journal of Mathematics Teacher Education, 13(3), 265-287.
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  7. Confrey, J. (1990). What constructivism implies for teaching. Journal for Research in Mathematics Education. Monograph, 4, 107-122.
  8. Cross, D. I. (2009). Alignment, cohesion and change: Examining mathematics teachers’ belief structure and its influence on instructional practice. Journal of Mathematics Teacher Education, 12(5), 325-346.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Other Fields of Education

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

March 26, 2022

Submission Date

September 20, 2021

Acceptance Date

March 18, 2022

Published in Issue

Year 2022 Volume: 23 Number: Özel Sayı

APA
Eker, A. (2022). What Drives Teachers’ Instructional Decisions?: An Exploration of Knowledge and Beliefs. Ahi Evran Üniversitesi Kırşehir Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 23(Özel Sayı), 612-642. https://doi.org/10.29299/kefad.998214
AMA
1.Eker A. What Drives Teachers’ Instructional Decisions?: An Exploration of Knowledge and Beliefs. KEFAD. 2022;23(Özel Sayı):612-642. doi:10.29299/kefad.998214
Chicago
Eker, Ayfer. 2022. “What Drives Teachers’ Instructional Decisions?: An Exploration of Knowledge and Beliefs”. Ahi Evran Üniversitesi Kırşehir Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi 23 (Özel Sayı): 612-42. https://doi.org/10.29299/kefad.998214.
EndNote
Eker A (March 1, 2022) What Drives Teachers’ Instructional Decisions?: An Exploration of Knowledge and Beliefs. Ahi Evran Üniversitesi Kırşehir Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi 23 Özel Sayı 612–642.
IEEE
[1]A. Eker, “What Drives Teachers’ Instructional Decisions?: An Exploration of Knowledge and Beliefs”, KEFAD, vol. 23, no. Özel Sayı, pp. 612–642, Mar. 2022, doi: 10.29299/kefad.998214.
ISNAD
Eker, Ayfer. “What Drives Teachers’ Instructional Decisions?: An Exploration of Knowledge and Beliefs”. Ahi Evran Üniversitesi Kırşehir Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi 23/Özel Sayı (March 1, 2022): 612-642. https://doi.org/10.29299/kefad.998214.
JAMA
1.Eker A. What Drives Teachers’ Instructional Decisions?: An Exploration of Knowledge and Beliefs. KEFAD. 2022;23:612–642.
MLA
Eker, Ayfer. “What Drives Teachers’ Instructional Decisions?: An Exploration of Knowledge and Beliefs”. Ahi Evran Üniversitesi Kırşehir Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, vol. 23, no. Özel Sayı, Mar. 2022, pp. 612-4, doi:10.29299/kefad.998214.
Vancouver
1.Ayfer Eker. What Drives Teachers’ Instructional Decisions?: An Exploration of Knowledge and Beliefs. KEFAD. 2022 Mar. 1;23(Özel Sayı):612-4. doi:10.29299/kefad.998214