Repeated field teaching: preservice teachers’ changes in teaching efficacy and theories of mathematics teaching

Abstract

The aim of this study was to understand preservice teachers’ changes in their perceived teaching efficacy and theories of mathematics teaching by repeated field-teaching. A mathematics (teaching) methods course was designed to include repeated field-teaching with multiple supports, including course instructors, school teachers, peers, and a course website. The course website was used to organize all course reading materials, discussion, work submission, and research data collection. Compared with that after first filed-teaching, the preservice teachers’ teaching efficacy increased after the second field-teaching in pedagogy-content coordination, fluent teaching process, effective solution to student difficulties, and problem posing. In addition, their theories of effective mathematics teaching changed from teacher-centered, theoretical, and procedural approaches to student-centered, practical, and thematic ones