Mathematics Colloquium



Department of Mathematics
University of Nebraska at Omaha


WHEN:
Tuesday March 23, 2:30-3:30PM

WHERE:
Durham Science Center, Room 256

WHAT:


Michael Matthews

Faculty Candidate


will give a talk on

Comparison of the Effects of Mathematics Content Courses for Preservice Elementary Teachers


ABSTRACT:

Several studies have documented serious deficiencies in the mathematical knowledge of preservice and inservice elementary teachers (Galuzzo, Leali, & Loomis, 2000; Goulding, Rowland, & Barber, 2002; Ma, 1999; Stacey, Steinle, & Irwin, 2001). Recently, national organizations such as the American Mathematical Society and the National Research Council have proposed university-level interventions to partially address these deficiencies. This study analyzes the impact of such an intervention, a course titled Logic of Arithmetic, developed by the mathematics department of the University of Iowa. When compared to a control group significant differences were found on content knowledge, and pedagogical content knowledge in favor of an experimental group that had taken Logic of Arithmetic. No differences were found on attitude toward mathematics, nor on class test grades from a methods course. Implications of the results and future research venues are discussed.


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