Preparing Pre-Service Mathematics Teachers for STEM Education: An Analysis of Lesson Proposals
- Resource Type
- Journal Articles
Reports - Research
- Authors
- Bergsten, Christer; Frejd, Peter
- Source
- ZDM: The International Journal on Mathematics Education. Nov 2019 51(6):941-953.
- Subject
- Mathematics Education
STEM Education
21st Century Skills
Preservice Teachers
Lesson Plans
Learning Activities
Secondary School Mathematics
Programming
Concept Formation
Mathematical Concepts
Mathematical Models
Interdisciplinary Approach
- Language
- English
- ISSN
- 1863-9690
Based on an investigation of research literature on the role of mathematics within the context of STEM education and twenty-first century skills, this explorative study presents and analyses 19 pre-service teachers' lesson proposals for innovative STEM activities in secondary mathematics classrooms. Drawing on a categorisation of twenty-first century skills and key concepts from Realistic Mathematics Education and Basil Bernstein's writings, the analysis indicated a use of detailed instructions regarding what students should do but unspecified criteria for their expected knowledge productions. Rather than serving as a digital tool for problem solving, programming was used for the purpose of generalising students' conceptual knowledge in mathematics. At the same time a focus on modelling and applications in the STEM activities tended to weaken the disciplinary character of mathematics. The learning of various twenty-first century skills was promoted to different extents. The study raises a discussion of affordances and constraints regarding students' access to mathematical knowledge through different modes of integration of mathematics and other STEM subjects aiming to support the development of twenty-first century skills.