Effects Of A Problem-Solving-Based Mathematics Course On Number Sense Of Preservice Teachers

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate what level of number sense was possessed by preservice elementary school teachers. The sample was composed of students in six intact entry?level mathematics sections of a course populated by preservice elementary school teachers. One hundred fifty-five participants from these six classes completed data collection tasks during the Spring 2002 semester for the study. These courses are all problem-solving-based. A problem-solving-based mathematics course was designed to utilize manipulatives, problem solving approaches, and the cooperative learning environment. Students actively participate in problem-solving mathematical exploration. Research designs using a control group could not be used for this study, as the problem?solving?based classroom is the required method by the institution to teaching this mathematics class. The six combined classes form “one-group” with pretest/posttest corresponding to the pre-post-surveys. T?tests were used to compare the paired changes in number sense across time.The participating elementary school preservice teachers’ number sense changed between the beginning and the completion of the undergraduate mathematics content course. This change was significant at a = 0.01 for issues.