RESEARCH PAPER
Pre-service Teachers’ Knowledge of Identifying and Clearing Pupils’ Misconceptions about Inverse and Composite Functions via Vignettes
 
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Universidad de Valladolid, SPAIN
 
 
Publication date: 2021-01-07
 
 
EURASIA J. Math., Sci Tech. Ed 2021;17(1):em1930
 
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ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to investigate pre-service teachers’ knowledge of content and students vis-à-vis their ability to anticipate, identify and clear high school students’ misconceptions about inverse and composite functions. To accomplish this goal a case study research design was used to examine one fourth year mathematics education pre-service teacher from one of Zambia’s public universities. A case study strategy was preferred for this study because it enables the researcher to focus and have an in-depth investigation of an individual subject in a natural setting. As a data collection tool, the study used a questionnaire containing 7 vignettes comprising 4 inverse function vignettes and 3 composite function vignettes. Data were analyzed based on Ebert’s framework for characterizing the level of proficiency of functions and graphs. Findings revealed that the pre-service teacher’s level of proficiency of identifying and clearing students’ misconceptions was mostly good. Results suggest that vignettes might be useful in mathematical pedagogical courses in teacher education.
 
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eISSN:1305-8223
ISSN:1305-8215
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