Section archive - Instruction in Teacher Training

The present study explores the evolution of prospective teachers’ understanding of mathematical modeling through the implementation of a modeling module. The findings reveal that though most prospective teachers had misconceived definitions of mathematical modeling prior to the module. The participants developed the correct understanding of modeling as an iterative process involving making assumptions and validating conclusions connected to everyday situations. Furthermore, the authors found that the participants translated the modeling cycle into practice. The authors indicate that the experience offered by mathematical modeling modules of this type can have a lasting positive effect in the prospective teachers’ quality of instruction.

This study examines how teachers experience the use of online role-play for collaborative argument so that they could have a better knowledge of how technology enhances learning. The findings reveal that online role-play was an appropriate way for teaching collaborative argument. The participants indicated that topic choice would influence their degree of involvement in the activity. Furthermore, the findings show that participants recognised the value of conducting research on the topic prior to posting for evidence to support their claims. Finally, the participants identified a number of benefits of online role-play.

This article describes a project, which focuses on supporting competencies, which foster the ability to act in school settings by using a blended-learning scenario. The authors conclude that this project combines theoretical and practical learning by repeatedly putting students into situation, which let them prepare lessons based on their didactical knowledge, give lessons at school and reflect on them both independently as well as cooperatively in an online environment. The authors indicate that the competencies that are intended to be fostered are reflective competence and media competence in order to support students’ ability to act in school settings. During the process of this blended learning scenario, students tend to blend self-reflection and the reflection of others. In addition, students gain new awareness and knowledge by dealing with their own video material as well as material of others.

In this article, the author focuses on recognizing humor as a powerful resource for newcomers in social settings like museums. The author discusses humor as a tool families use to help themselves feel more comfortable in museums, but also to help merge their everyday agendas with those of the museum. She used exemplars of family humor come from two different research studies conducted in different institutions. The author demonstrates that the humor seen functioned as a way to involve others, to ease the tension of not knowing a new setting, language, practice, or content, as well as to help shift authority from mediator to parent, or from parent to child.