Prospective Primary Teachers’ Professional Noticing in Non-formal Learning Environments: The Case of a Mathematics Fair

Research around mathematics teachers’ professional noticing has been largely contextualised by the formal setting of the classroom. In addressing the lack of relevant studies in non-formal learning environments, this paper draws on student teachers’ observations within a Mathematics Fair, which was part of a mathematics methods module of a primary education undergraduate programme. Working in pairs, 64 student teachers designed interactive mathematical games which upper primary school pupils had the opportunity to play in an event having taken place at our university. In this study, we analyse student teachers’ individual reflective essays written after the Fair, where they discussed important, in their view, incidents and observations. Employing a thematic analysis approach, we identified four themes discussed by students: the task; learning; teaching; non-formal environment. We conclude with the implications for teacher education and suggestions for future research.

Teacher noticing and its growth toward expertise: an expert–novice comparison with pre-service and in-service secondary mathematics teachers

Although strong references to expertise in different theoretical approaches to teacher noticing have been made in the last decades, empirical knowledge about the development of teacher noticing from novice to expert level is scarce. The present study aims to close this research gap by comparing three different groups of mathematics teachers with different degrees of professional teaching experience—pre-service teachers at the master’s level, early career teachers, and experienced teachers—using data sampled in the frame of the research program from the Teacher Education and Development Study in Mathematics (TEDS-M). Furthermore, the construct of teacher noticing is assessed in a differentiated way by analyzing different noticing facets. Findings confirm that three facets of teacher noticing can be empirically distinguished—perception of important classroom events, their interpretation, and decisions regarding further developments. The results reveal a considerable increase in professional noticing between master’s students and practicing teachers. However, in contrast to other studies, among examples from East Asia, a stagnation or decrease in professional noticing between early career teachers and experienced teachers could be observed. Overall, the study highlights the cultural dependency of expertise development regarding teachers’ noticing.

Formação de professores de Matemática e os conhecimentos necessários à docência com tecnologias digitais

O objetivo deste texto é o de promover reflexões sobre o papel que as Tecnologias Digitais da Informação e Comunicação (TDIC) têm desempenhado na formação docente, bem como no ensino de Matemática. A discussão se baseia nas pesquisas empreendidas pelo grupo de pesquisa ao qual pertenço, sob três perspectivas: integração de tecnologias ao ensino; conhecimentos e competências necessárias à docência em Matemática com tecnologia digital; processos formativos que favorecem o desenvolvimento profissional. Tais pesquisas têm sido focadas na formação inicial e continuada de professores. As bases teóricas que nos têm subsidiado tanto a investigar a base de conhecimentos e as competências necessárias ao professor de matemática para ensinar utilizando tecnologias digitais, quanto a pesquisar processos formativos que favoreçam a construção de conhecimentos pelos docentes, vêm dos estudos sobre: 1) conhecimento profissional docente e conhecimento pedagógico e tecnológico do conteúdo (TPACK), 2) processos de apropriação e apropriação tecnológica, 3) gênese instrumental, 4) competência digital e 5) professional noticing (olhar profissional ou mirada profesional). No texto listamos as pesquisas empreendidas e discutimos as bases teóricas que as subsidiaram, apresentando o que concluímos até o presente.

Supporting Pre-Service Secondary Mathematics Teachers’ Professional Noticing of Student Thinking Professional Noticing of Student Thinking

A growing body of evidence suggests developing the attention of preservice, secondary mathematics (PSMTs) teachers towards professional noticing of student thinking should feature in teacher education programs. There were two aims for this qualitative study: first, to explore the extent to which an Interview Module (IM) supported the development of PSMTs’ ability to notice and make pedagogical decisions based on student thinking evidenced in video- and paper-based work samples. A secondary aim was to establish the viability of the IM in an Australian context. Overall, PSMTs regarded their involvement in the IM as beneficial to their development as teachers. Specifically, participants outlined that the IM helped to shift their beliefs about teaching and learning, and helped promote productive teacher dispositions. Furthermore, these shifts were enabled through opportunities to engage with authentic student work, and the access they were given to new forms of responding.

Coaching to develop teacher professional noticing: planning with students and mathematics in mind

PurposeThis paper examines how intentional mathematics coaching practices can develop teacher professional noticing of “ambitious teaching practices” (NCTM, 2020) through connected, collaborative coaching cycles.Design/methodology/approachNarrative analysis is used to examine observations of a mathematics coach and novice teacher to better understand the role of the coach in helping teachers attend to ambitious mathematics teaching (AMT) practices.FindingsThe initial findings of this study suggest that intentional use of focused goals, iterative coaching cycles and a gradual release model of coaching can support shifts in noticing of AMT from being led by the coach to being facilitated by the teacher.Originality/valueThis study offers new insights into the functions of mathematics coaching that can foster shifts in teacher noticing and practice toward AMT. It contributes to the literature on what mathematics coaching looks and sounds like in the context of conversations with teachers, as well as the potential influence that structured, intentional, ongoing coaching supports can have on teacher noticing.