Preparing Pre-Service Teachers to Use Visual Representations as Strategy to Solve Mathematics Problems: What Did They Learn?

2021 ◽  
pp. 088840642199607
Author(s):  
Delinda van Garderen ◽  
Amy Scheuermann ◽  
Kate Sadler ◽  
Stephanie Hopkins ◽  
Stacy M. Hirt
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Visual Representations ◽  
Methods Course ◽  
Learning Needs ◽  
Pedagogical Content ◽  
Mathematics Problems ◽  
Based Instruction ◽  
Personal Understanding ◽  
Case Based

Recognizing the multiple interacting layers of pedagogical content knowledge, in this article, we present the findings from a study that examined the extent to which participation in case-based instruction about self-generated visual representations (VRs) supported special education pre-service teachers ( N = 25) in enhancing their (a) knowledge of VRs, specifically what and how to teach, as a strategy for solving mathematics problems, and (b) applied instructional practices, specifically analysis of student knowledge and instructional planning, about VRs for students with disabilities (SWDs) to solve mathematics problems. The data revealed that case-based instruction about VRs in a special education mathematics methods course enriched pre-service teachers personal understanding about VRs and their ability to target SWDs learning needs regarding VRs. Implications for pre-service teacher preparation and research are provided.

Special Education Teachers’ Perceptions of Students’ With Disabilities Ability, Instructional Needs, and Difficulties Using Visual Representations to Solve Mathematics Problems

2018 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-188
Author(s):  
Delinda van Garderen ◽  
Amy Scheuermann ◽  
Apryl L. Poch
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Special Education Teachers ◽  
Mathematical Problem ◽  
Visual Representations ◽  
Training And Development ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Mathematics Problems ◽  
Perceptions Of Students ◽  
Instructional Needs

In this article, we present findings that examined special education teachers’ perception of students’ with disabilities ability, instructional needs, and difficulties for using visual representations (VRs) as a strategy to solve mathematics problems. In addition, whether these perceptions differed by instructional grade or setting currently teaching was examined. Survey data from 97 in-service teachers revealed, regardless of instructional setting or grade level taught, that they believe students with disabilities have the ability to learn about and use VRs and need to be taught to use VRs. Furthermore, the special education teachers perceived students with disabilities to have difficulty with all aspects related to using VRs in mathematical problem-solving. Implications for teacher training and development are provided.

Preparing Special Education Preservice Teachers to Teach Computational Thinking and Computer Science in Mathematics

2021 ◽  
pp. 088840642199237
Author(s):  
Emily C. Bouck ◽  
Phil Sands ◽  
Holly Long ◽  
Aman Yadav
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Preservice Teachers ◽  
Computer Science ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Special Education Teachers ◽  
Computational Thinking ◽  
Lesson Plans ◽  
Methods Course ◽  
Mathematics Methods ◽  
K 12

Increasingly in K–12 schools, students are gaining access to computational thinking (CT) and computer science (CS). This access, however, is not always extended to students with disabilities. One way to increase CT and CS (CT/CS) exposure for students with disabilities is through preparing special education teachers to do so. In this study, researchers explore exposing special education preservice teachers to the ideas of CT/CS in the context of a mathematics methods course for students with disabilities or those at risk of disability. Through analyzing lesson plans and reflections from 31 preservice special education teachers, the researchers learned that overall emerging promise exists with regard to the limited exposure of preservice special education teachers to CT/CS in mathematics. Specifically, preservice teachers demonstrated the ability to include CT/CS in math lesson plans and showed understanding of how CT/CS might enhance instruction with students with disabilities via reflections on these lessons. The researchers, however, also found a need for increased experiences and opportunities for preservice special education teachers with CT/CS to more positively impact access for students with disabilities.

Diversity and Inclusion and Special Education

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Forlin ◽  
Dianne Chambers
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
20Th Century ◽  
Inclusive Education ◽  
Learning Needs ◽  
Special Schools ◽  
New Era ◽  
Regular School ◽  
Diversity And Inclusion ◽  
Inclusive Approach

Special education has undergone continued transformation since societies began to provide an increasing number of specialized, segregated facilities for children with like needs during the 20th century. Since then, there has been a worldwide movement against a segregated approach and toward greater inclusion of students with disabilities into regular schools. The provision of a dual special education and regular school system, nevertheless, remains in existence, even though there has been a strong emphasis on a more inclusive approach since the latter half of the 20th century. As regular schools become more inclusive and teachers more capable of providing appropriate modifications for most students with learning needs, simultaneously there has been an increase in the number of students whose needs are so severe that schools have not been able to accommodate them. While these children and youth have special needs, they are invariably not related to an identified disability but fall more into a category of diversity. In particular, students who are excluded from schools due to severe infringements, those who are disenfranchised from school and refuse to attend, and those with severe emotional, behavioral, or mental health issues are not being serviced by the existing dual system. For these students neither existing special schools that cater to students with disabilities nor regular inclusive schools provide an appropriate education. The provision of a complementary and alternatively focused education to cater to the specific needs of these marginalized students seems to be developing to ensure sustainability of education and to prepare these new groups of students for inclusion into society upon leaving school. This tripartite approach highlights a new era in the movement toward a sustainable, inclusive education system that caters to the needs of all students and specifically those with the most challenging and diverse requirements.

Visual Representation in Mathematics: Special Education Teachers’ Knowledge and Emphasis for Instruction

2016 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Delinda van Garderen ◽  
Amy Scheuermann ◽  
Apryl Poch ◽  
Mary M. Murray
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Research Design ◽  
Special Education Teachers ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Special Educators ◽  
Visual Representations ◽  
K 12

The use of visual representations (VRs) in mathematics is a strongly recommended practice in special education. Although recommended, little is known about special educators’ knowledge of and instructional emphasis about VRs. Therefore, in this study, the authors examined special educators’ own knowledge of and their instructional emphasis with VRs in mathematics for students with disabilities (SWDs) in Grades K-12. A total of 146 teachers (pre- and in-service) responded to an online survey. A mixed methods triangulation research design was utilized. Findings include the following: (a) teachers hold conceptions about VRs and the roles they serve in problem solving; their ideas, however, lack depth and are narrow in perspective; (b) what teachers emphasize about VRs to SWDs tends to match their own conceptions, but the explanations they provide for SWDs need expanding and refinement; and (c) given their narrow conceptions, VRs may be limited to a peripheral role in special educators’ instruction.

Preparing Teachers for Special and General Education through Case-based Instruction: An Analysis of their Perceptions, Learning, and Written Cases

1992 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 40-47
Author(s):  
Mark P Mostert ◽  
James M Kauffman
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Teacher Preparation ◽  
General Education ◽  
Special Education Teachers ◽  
Teaching Practice ◽  
Practical Knowledge ◽  
Basic Principles ◽  
Behaviour Management ◽  
Based Instruction ◽  
Case Based

Case-based teaching is one way of responding to the challenge of preparing general and special education teachers for the roles they are to assume. We discuss the rationale for case-based instruction and described our efforts to use this approach in teaching a course in behaviour management. Our impression is that although case-based instruction is a promising approach, it has limitations in teacher preparation. It is promising in that it gives voice to teachers’ practical knowledge and helps students become more reflective about teaching practice. It appears to be particularly limited as an approach with trainees who have no prior classroom experience, and it is no substitute for a working knowledge of basic principles.

Analysis of Science Textbook Recommendations Provided for Students with Disabilities

1993 ◽  
Vol 59 (6) ◽  
pp. 518-531 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rene S. Parmar ◽  
John F. Cawley
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Elementary Science ◽  
Public Law ◽  
Learning Needs ◽  
Science Textbook ◽  
Mainstream Teachers ◽  
Textbook Series

Teachers' manuals from three major elementary science textbook series were analyzed. These textbooks provided specific instructional recommendations for students with disabilities in mainstream classes. Findings reveal that (a) the textbooks did not provide recommendations for all categories of disabilities as defined in Public Law 94–142; (b) many recommendations did not specifically address the learning needs of the students for whom they were intended; and (c) there was no consistency in the nature of recommendations provided for any given category of disability. Results indicate that special education and mainstream teachers should monitor the usefulness of published materials that claim to meet the needs of students with disabilities.

scholarly journals Developing Preservice Teachers’ Expertise in Evaluating and Adapting Mathematics Lesson Plans

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-46
Author(s):  
Stephanie Morano ◽  
Paul J. Riccomini
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Preservice Teachers ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Explicit Instruction ◽  
Lesson Plans ◽  
Methods Course ◽  
Opportunities To Learn ◽  
Mathematics Lesson ◽  
Instructional Supports ◽  
Support Students

To provide appropriate and effective instructional supports to students with disabilities, special education preservice teachers require development of expertise in the design and delivery of specially designed lessons. It is critical that special education preservice education programs provide students ample opportunities to learn how to evaluate and adapt lesson plans through the application of the elements of explicit instruction. In this article, we explain how to develop preservice teachers’ expertise in the evaluation and adaptation of mathematics lesson plans with the elements of explicitness to better support students with disabilities. The example activity and assignments provided are anchored in the context of a university math methods course and include all necessary materials.

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