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Preschool Teachers’ Pedagogical Content Knowledge in Mathematics

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Abstract

The study investigated preschool teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) in mathematics. The construct of PCK for teaching mathematics in preschool involves three components: (1) noticing mathematical situations in which children engage; (2) interpreting the nature of children’s math activity; and (3) enhancing children’s mathematical thinking and understanding. The research participants were 30 preschool teachers from a large city in South Korea. Teachers identified mathematical situations in a children’s play scenario, interpreted the nature of the mathematical situations, and identified how children’s mathematical thinking in the reported situation could be enhanced. The teachers’ responses were quantitatively scored. The results indicate that participants possessed higher levels of PCK about number sense, measurement, and classification than for patterning, operations, shapes, and spatial relationships. Teachers need knowledge to interpret mathematical situations in order to identify ways to enhance children’s mathematical thinking. Teachers with more teaching experience were more likely to have higher scores on the overall PCK measure. Teachers require greater knowledge to recognize specific mathematical concepts in use in children’s play in order to be able to extend and enhance preschool children’s mathematical thinking.

Résumé

L’étude a porté sur la connaissance du contenu pédagogique (CCP) des enseignants du préscolaire en mathématiques. La construction de la CCP pour l'enseignement des mathématiques au niveau préscolaire comporte trois volets: (1) remarquer les situations mathématiques dans lesquelles les enfants s’engagent; (2) interpréter la nature de l'activité mathématique des enfants; et (3) accroître la pensée et la compréhension mathématiques des enfants. Les participants à la recherche étaient 30 enseignants du préscolaire d'une grande ville de Corée du Sud. Les enseignants identifiaient les situations mathématiques dans un scénario de jeu d’enfants, interprétaient la nature des situations mathématiques et identifiaient comment la pensée mathématique des enfants dans la situation rapportée pourrait être améliorée. Les réponses des enseignants étaient quantitativement notées. Les résultats indiquent que les participants possédaient des niveaux plus élevés de CCP sur le sens du nombre, la mesure et la classification que sur la modélisation, les opérations, les formes et les relations spatiales. Les enseignants ont besoin de connaissances pour interpréter les situations mathématiques afin d’identifier les moyens d'améliorer la pensée mathématique des enfants. Les enseignants plus expérimentés étaient plus susceptibles d’avoir des scores plus élevés à la mesure globale de la CCP. Les enseignants ont besoin de plus de connaissance pour reconnaître les concepts mathématiques spécifiques utilisés dans le jeu des enfants afin d’être en mesure d'accroître et d’améliorer la pensée mathématique des enfants d’âge préscolaire

Resumen

El estudió investigó el conocimiento de contenido pedagógico de profesores preescolares en matemática (PCK). La construcción de PCK para la enseñanza de matemática en el preescolar involucra tres componentes: (1) advertir situaciones matemáticas en las que los niños se involucran; (2) interpretar la naturaleza de la actividad matemática de los niños; y (3) fomentar el pensamiento matemático y el entendimiento de los niños y niñas. Los participantes de la investigación fueron 30 profesores preescolares de una ciudad grande de Corea del Sur. Los profesores identificaron situaciones matemáticas en un escenario de juego infantil; interpretaron la naturaleza de las situaciones matemáticas; e identificaron cómo el pensamiento matemático de los niños en la situación reportada podría ser fomentado. Las respuestas de los profesores fueron puntuadas cuantitativamente. Los resultados indicaron que los participantes que poseían niveles de PCK más altos acerca del sentido numérico, mediciones y clasificaciones no los tenían para patrones, operaciones numéricas, formas y relaciones espaciales. Los profesores necesitan conocimiento para interpretar las situaciones matemáticas para identificar formas de potenciar el pensamiento matemático en los niños. Los profesores con más experiencia pedagógica poseían mayores posibilidades de obtener puntajes más altos en el PCK general. Los profesores requieren mayores niveles de conocimiento para reconocer conceptos matemáticos específicos para su utilización en los juegos de los niños, para ser capaces de extender y potenciar el pensamiento matemático de niños de preescolar.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by research Grants from the Baekseok University in 2016.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Early Childhood Education, Baekseok University, #76, Munam-ro, Dongnam-gu, Cheonan, Chungnam, 31065, South Korea

    Jae Eun Lee

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Lee, J.E. Preschool Teachers’ Pedagogical Content Knowledge in Mathematics. IJEC 49, 229–243 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13158-017-0189-1

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