Representing context in video records of practice for urban mathematics teacher education

Mathematics education research has not sufficiently theorized about mathematics teacher knowledge and practice, teacher learning, and teacher education in ways that are reflective of the specificities of the sociopolitical contexts of schooling. In the USA, this is particularly important for urban mathematics education. This paper examines the affordances and challenges of representing context in video records of practice, particularly in the urban context, for use in the preparation of mathematics teachers for urban settings. The discussion, grounded in current research and theory relevant to representations of teaching, urban education, and mathematics teacher education, takes up three key issues: how is a focus on the urban context relevant to the design of video records of practice for mathematics teacher education? How can video records support prospective teachers’ understandings of the sociopolitical contexts of mathematics teaching? How does a focus on the urban context impact the meaning teachers make of video records?     

Teacher Mentoring as a Community Effort

This article presents the findings from a study of a mentoring program for novice mathematics and science teachers, which was provided by their teacher education program. This study reports the findings of interviews with novice math and science teachers, their mentors, and the mentoring program administrators to explore stakeholder perceptions of mentoring support. Findings suggest the importance of using multiple mentoring strategies to develop, support, and retain high‐quality math and science teachers in the teaching profession. This study contributes to what is known about the role that teacher education programs may play in mentoring novice math and science teachers who have graduated from their programs.     

Multi‐Year Professional Development Grounded in Educative Curriculum Focused on Integrating Technology With Reformed Science Teaching Principles

Visions of science teaching and learning in the newest U.S. standards documents are dramatically different than those found in most classrooms. This research addresses these differences through closely examining one professional development (PD) project that connects teacher learning and teacher practice with student learning/achievement. This study examines the effects on eighth grade science teachers and their students in the context of a PD focused on the integration of information communication technologies and reformed science teaching practices. Findings from this investigation suggest that teachers who participated in PD for two years learned more about technology, improved their practice, and their students’ achievement was significantly higher compared to teachers who participated in one year of the PD or non‐participating peers. Science educators face multiple challenges as they attempt to deliver instruction in fundamentally different ways than what they experienced as learners. The delivery of this professional learning suggest that PD for science teachers should include educative learning experiences if understandings of reforms supported by research are to be realized.     

Engineering design and the development of knowledge for teaching among preservice science teachers

The goal of this article is to inform professional understanding regarding preservice science teachers’ knowledge of engineering and the engineering design process. Originating as a conceptual study of the appropriateness of “knowledge as design” as a framework for conducting science teacher education to support learning related to engineering design, the findings are informed by an ongoing research project. Perkins’s theory encapsulates knowledge as design within four complementary components of the nature of design. When using the structure of Perkins’s theory as a framework for analysis of data gathered from preservice teachers conducting engineering activities within an instructional methods course for secondary science, a concurrence between teacher knowledge development and the theory emerged. Initially, the individuals, who were participants in the research, were unfamiliar with engineering as a component of science teaching and expressed a lack of knowledge of engineering. The emergence of connections between Perkins’s theory of knowledge as design and knowledge development for teaching were found when examining preservice teachers’ development of creative and systematic thinking skills within the context of engineering design activities as well as examination of their knowledge of the application of science to problem‐solving situations.     

An examination of pre-service mathematics teachers’ ethical reasoning in big data with considerations of access to data

Implementations of Big Data analysis are reshaping society. The novel ways mathematics operate in society warrants new efforts for mathematics education, both in teaching the new technology and in providing an ethical and critical awareness of its implications. This interview study investigates pre-service teachers' ethical reasoning in data science contexts, focusing on aspects of access to the data that underpin the technology. Findings show that pre-service teachers offer a wide array of ethical arguments related to access to data, that informs their effort to think critically on oppressive situations. However, there is also an indication that their reasoning can be limited by lacking understanding of the related data science methodology, implying that mathematics teacher education should encompass more of this.     

Knowing more than their students: Characterizing secondary science teachers’ subject matter knowledge

Despite agreement among teacher educators, scholars, and policymakers on the importance of teachers’ subject matter knowledge (SMK), existing models provide limited information about the nature of this foundational component of teacher knowledge. The common assumption is that teachers need to know more about the science subject matter than their students are expected to learn, but what and how much more is underspecified. In order to more characterize science teachers’ SMK, we present the science knowledge for teaching (SKT) model, which has been adapted from the mathematics education literature to apply to science education. The SKT model includes three domains: core content knowledge, specialized content knowledge, and linked content knowledge. We used this model to explore the SMK new secondary chemistry teachers in South Africa and the United States drew on when they explained the conservation of mass and analyzed a related teaching scenario, two important tasks of teaching. Findings indicated these new teachers drew on knowledge from all three SKT domains in order to engage in these tasks of teaching. This result suggests the potential of the SKT model to characterize the nature of science teachers’ SMK and thereby better inform teacher preparation and professional development programs.     

Conception of expert mathematics teacher: a comparative study between Hong Kong and Chongqing

This paper reports the similarities and differences in how “expert mathematics teacher” is conceptualized by mathematics educators in Hong Kong and Chongqing, two cities in China which share similar but different cultural and social backgrounds. Thirty-seven mathematics education researchers, school principals with mathematics education background, and mathematics teachers were interviewed on their perceptions of expert mathematics teacher. It is found that in both cities an expert mathematics teacher should have a profound knowledge base in mathematics, teaching, and students; strong ability in teaching; and a noble personality and a spirit of life-long learning. As for differences, an expert mathematics teacher should have the ability to conduct research, mentor other teachers, and have profound knowledge of examination and educational theories in Chongqing. These attributes were not found in Hong Kong. These similarities and differences are discussed, and relevant social and cultural factors in the two contexts are examined.     

Teachers Describe Epistemologies of Science Instruction Through Q Methodology

Creating scientifically literate students is a common goal among educational stakeholders. An understanding of nature of science is an important component of scientific literacy in K‐12 science education. Q methodology was used to investigate the opinions of preservice and in‐service teachers on how they intend to teach or currently teach science. Q methodology is a measurement tool designed to capture personal beliefs. Participants included 40 preservice and in‐service elementary and secondary science teachers who sorted 40 self‐referential statements regarding science instruction. The results identified three epistemologies toward teaching science: A Changing World, My Beliefs, and Tried and True. Participants with the A Changing World epistemology believe evidence is reliable, scientific knowledge is generated in multiple ways, and science changes in light of new evidence. The My Beliefs epistemology reflects that scientific knowledge is subject to change due to embedded bias, science is affected by culture and religion, and evolution should not be taught in the classroom. The Tried and True epistemology views a scientific method as an exact method to prove science, believes experiments are crucial for scientific discoveries, absolute truth exists in scientific knowledge, and society and cultural factors can be eliminated from investigations. Implications for preservice teacher education programs and in‐service teacher professional development are addressed.     

Being a mathematics teacher in times of reform

Within research on mathematics teachers and/or their professional development, the concept of identity emerges as a critique of views of how teaching practice is related to teachers’ ‘internal states’ of knowledge and beliefs. Identity relates teachers’ professional lives to teaching practices and to the contexts in which the teaching and/or professional development occurs. However, what might count as the context still needs in-depth discussion. In order to contribute to the development of a theoretical framework for understanding mathematics teachers’ professional lives, we will draw on one remarkable teacher’s identity as a primary mathematics teacher in relation to one political, sociocultural, and pedagogical context. We use this teacher’s experience to discuss how education policies that create what Ball (2003) called ‘terrors of performativity’ tend to impede the formation of a balanced teacher identity.     

Making mathematics and science integration happen: key aspects of practice

The integration of mathematics and science teaching and learning facilitates student learning, engagement, motivation, problem-solving, criticality and real-life application. However, the actual implementation of an integrative approach to the teaching and learning of both subjects at classroom level, with in-service teachers working collaboratively, at second-level education, is under-researched due to the complexities of school-based research. This study reports on a year-long case study on the implementation of an integrated unit of learning on distance, speed and time, within three second-level schools in Ireland. This study employed a qualitative approach and examined the key aspects of practice that impact on the integration of mathematics and science teaching and learning. We argue that teacher perspective, teacher knowledge of the ‘other subject’ and of technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK), and teacher collaboration and support all impact on the implementation of an integrative approach to mathematics and science education.     

Mathematics and science teacher training program improves inquiry practices for teachers

With the call for increasing the level of inquiry-based instruction in mathematics and science classrooms, it is imperative for teacher education programs to prepare teachers with these skills. This study draws from classroom observation data to determine the influence a unique teacher certification program has on key aspects of teacher practice using a series of Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon Rank Sum tests. Findings indicate that teachers participating in the program have a statistically significant level of growth in their use of inquiry practices related to Classroom Culture. In addition, by the fourth semester of their involvement in the program, participating teachers employ higher levels of inquiry instruction than a comparison group of teachers for almost every factor assessed.     

Student Interest in Engineering Design‐Based Science

Current reform efforts in science education around the world call on teachers to use integrated approaches to teach science. As a part of such reform efforts in the United States, engineering practices and engineering design have been identified in K–12 science education standards. However, there is relatively little is known about effective ways of teaching science through engineering design. The study explores the approaches or strategies used by a sixth grade science teacher to teach science and engineering in an integrative manner. Classroom observations, teacher interview, and student surveys were used to study the features of engineering integration implemented by the teacher and the changes in student interest in science and engineering by participating in an engineering design‐based science unit. Findings suggest that the teacher explicitly included practices and core ideas from engineering and science; used an engaging, motivating engineering challenge; and provided students with opportunities to be autonomous. Students engaged in the activities in the engineering unit and their interest level slightly increased. The results suggest that the three strategies that the teacher used to teach engineering and science are important foundations of integrated science and engineering education.     

Effective Professional Development and Change in Practice: Barriers Science Teachers Encounter and Implications for Reform

This study focused on two middle schools in the central US who participated in collaborative, sustained, whole‐school professional development in implementing inquiry as part of National Science Education Standards, or standards‐based instructional practices. Participants were involved in their second year of the professional development experience. The research question explored was, “What barriers do science teachers encounter when implementing standards‐based instruction while participating in effective professional development experiences?” Qualitative data collected in the form of teacher interviews and classroom observations were utilized and were analyzed using a barrier to reform rubric. Findings indicate that even with effective professional development, science teachers still encounter technical, political, and cultural barriers to implementation. More support is required for professional development efforts to be successful, such as resources and time, as well as administrative buy‐in and support. Findings also revealed that even the best intended professional development efforts do not reveal and address existing beliefs for all teachers. Implications for future science education reform stakeholders are discussed.     

Models are a “metaphor in your brain”: How potential and preservice teachers understand the science and engineering practice of modeling

We investigated beginning secondary science teachers’ understandings of the science and engineering practice of developing and using models. Our study was situated in a scholarship program that served two groups: undergraduate STEM majors interested in teaching, or potential teachers, and graduate students enrolled in a teacher education program to earn their credentials, or preservice teachers. The two groups completed intensive practicum experiences in STEM‐focused academies within two public high schools. We conducted a series of interviews with each participant and used grade‐level competencies outlined in the Next Generation Science Standards to analyze their understanding of the practice of developing and using models. We found that potential and preservice teachers understood this practice in ways that both aligned and did not align with the NGSS and that their understandings varied across the two groups and the two practicum contexts. In our implications, we recommend that teacher educators recognize and build from the various ways potential and preservice teachers understand this complex practice to improve its implementation in science classrooms. Further, we recommend that a variety of practicum contexts may help beginning teachers develop a greater breadth of understanding about the practice of developing and using models.     

Reflections on Success and Retention in Urban Science Education: Voices of Five African‐American Science Teachers Who Stayed

This study highlights the factors that contribute to excellence in urban science teaching as pinpointed by five urban African‐American science teachers who have taught successfully in the urban system for over 10 years. These teachers shared their experiences and reflections on the qualities that contributed to their success and persistence as urban science teachers. Their ability to understand and care for their students was a major contributing factor; other contributing factors included in‐depth knowledge and love of science, caring and commitment to the whole child, effective classroom management strategies, high expectations and motivation of their students, and an understanding and acceptance of the varying parental involvement in the educational decisions about their child.     

Changing Teacher Behavior Through Staff Development: Implementing the Teaching and Content Standards in Science

For the last five years, the Center for Precollege Programs of the New Jersey Institute of Technology has operated the Urban Elementary Outreach Program, a staff development program intended to bring improved math and science education to the elementary schools of Newark, New Jersey. Teachers in urban settings have been hampered in their efforts to provide enriching, student-centered and constructivist science and math teaching ( Huinker, 1996 ). The Outreach Program has attempted to provide teachers with sustained support through training and direct classroom assistance in an effort to develop a sense of self-efficacy ( Bandura, 1982 ) in relation to desired teaching and student behaviors that are part of a standards-based learning experience. Traditional training approaches for teachers are supplemented by weekly classroom visits by graduate assistants, who both model standards-based science teaching and assist the teacher in assuming effective instructional methods. The combination of workshops, orientations, newsletters, and weekly classroom visits make up a staff development program of two years in duration for teacher participants. Through this intensive program, we intend to change teaching behaviors in the many complex ways identified in the National Science Education Standards.     

Voices from the Front Lines: Exemplary Science Teachers on Education Reform

The purpose of this study is to gain insight into the experiences that nationally award‐winning, exemplary science teachers have had over their career and examine the alignment of their responses with calls for K‐12 science education reform from a selection of prominent commissioned government reports since 1980. From an assessment of the alignment of exemplary teachers, calls for reform have had a limited effect and highlight the weakness of using national reports as a wide‐scale, nationalized approach to science education reform. Findings are focused on seven different areas of teacher development: classroom issues, teaching scientific inquiry, use of technology, preservice experiences, professional development of in‐service teachers, vertical articulation, and science education reform over time. Among other issues, the teachers indicated one of the biggest barriers to inquiry teaching is the pressure to conform to high‐stakes testing and the lack of examples of inquiry teaching during teacher education experiences.     

Learning Trajectories,Lesson Planning,Affordances, and Constraints in the Design and Enactment of Mathematics Teaching

Recent reform efforts in mathematics education have stimulated a focus on learning trajectories. At the same time, a global increase in high-stakes testing has influenced instructional practices. This study investigated how four fourth grade teachers within a school planned and enacted lessons to understand what mediated their planning and teaching decisions. Findings reveal that three of these teachers, who were veteran teachers, used a testing trajectory approach with decisions mediated by preparing students for high-stakes tests. The fourth teacher, a novice, attempted to use a learning trajectory approach to support student understanding. Results reveal that high-stakes testing played a crucial role in teachers' instructional decisions. Based on the findings, we provide a framework for a testing trajectory approach that the veteran teachers used to make instructional decisions. Further research is needed to understand how to support teachers to prepare students for testing using effective teaching practices.     

Implementing Coteaching and Cogenerative Dialoguing in Urban Science Education

Over the past 7 years the authors have been involved in the development of a new model for the education of science teachers that has the potential to address teacher education in challenging urban settings characterized by problems such as teacher turnover and retention, low job satisfaction, and contradictions arising from cultural and ethnic diversity. An intensive research program accompanied the development effort; the research results were used as resources in redesigning the evolving model to make it more appropriate for the situations at hand. The science teacher education program at an urban university was built around a yearlong field experience, during which all prospective teachers learned to teach in an urban high school while coteaching, that is, while teaching at the elbow of a mentor teacher or one or more peers. Over this period, a number of different configurations of coteaching and the associated cogenerative dialoguing were tried, tested, and investigated. The paper describes the historical development of the different configurations of the model and the emergent contradictions that led the researchers to enact changes to their approach. The central idea in the development effort was the creation of an environment that (a) best affords the learning of how to teach in urban high schools, (b) decreases teacher isolation, (c) mitigates turnover and retention, and (d) addresses contradictions arising from the cultural and ethnic diversity of students and teachers. Most importantly, this model of teacher education and enhancement simultaneously multiplies the resources and opportunities to support the learning of students.