Graduation date: 2006
The purpose of this study was to describe the development of mathematics
preservice teachers’ technology pedagogical content knowledge (TPCK) in a
subject specific, technology integrated teacher preparation program. The study also
investigated the roles of several influential components of the program and the
technology thread throughout the program in supporting preservice teacher
development of TPCK. Courses attendances, classroom observations, interviews,
questionnaires, classroom artifacts, researcher journal, and preservice teachers’
work samples were gathered to explore the progress of the preservice teachers’
TPCK during a one year program. Three cases of preservice teachers were
purposefully selected to describe the development of their TPCK. Each case
consisted of three episodes, prior to the program, during the course work, and
during student teaching. Each episode provided the preservice teachers’ description
about their TPCK in the context of the program.
The primary finding was that all three preservice teachers showed various
degrees of understanding the four components of TPCK: an overarching conception
what it means to teach mathematics with technology; knowledge of instructional
strategies and representation; knowledge of students’ understanding, thinking, and
learning; knowledge of curriculum and curriculum materials that integrate
technology in mathematics. The second finding was that the different
understanding of those preservice teachers’ TPCK affected their practices during
student teaching. These preservice teachers’ practices of TPCK were categorized
into four different levels, accepting, adapting, exploring and advancing. Finally,
the study found that the preservice teachers indicated that all the coursework in the
program was primarily responsible for the development of their particular levels of
TPCK. This finding also provided specific evidence that the technology courses
thread in the program was integrated and interconnected throughout the program.
Future research recommendations are included for the investigation of: (1)
actions the teacher preparation program needs to take for improving on the different
levels of preservice teachers’ TPCK (2) the relationship of the cooperating teachers,
university supervisors, and course instructors’ understanding of TPCK on the
preservice teachers’ TPCK development; and (3) identification of significant
relationships between preservice teachers’ TPCK during the program and their use
of technology in their future teaching career.