ERIC Number: EJ1269526
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020-Sep
Pages: 25
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-2167-9789
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Exploring Real Numbers as Rational Number Sequences with Prospective Mathematics Teachers
Belin, Mervenur; Akar, Gülseren Karagöz
Mathematics Teacher Educator, v9 n1 p63-87 Sep 2020
The understandings prospective mathematics teachers develop by focusing on quantities and quantitative relationships within real numbers have the potential for enhancing their future students' understanding of real numbers. In this article, we propose an instructional sequence that addresses quantitative relationships for the construction of real numbers as rational number sequences. We found that the instructional sequence enhanced prospective teachers' understanding of real numbers by considering them as quantities and explaining them by using rational number sequences. In particular, results showed that prospective teachers reasoned about fractions and decimal representations of rational numbers using long division, the division algorithm, and diagrams. This further prompted their reasoning with decimal representations of rational and irrational numbers as rational number sequences, which leads to authentic construction of real numbers. Enacting the instructional sequence provides lenses for mathematics teacher educators to notice and eliminate difficulties of their students while developing relationships among multiple representations of real numbers.
Descriptors: Preservice Teachers, Mathematics Teachers, Pedagogical Content Knowledge, Number Concepts, Mathematics Instruction, Sequential Learning, Mathematics Skills, Fractions, Arithmetic, Division, Visual Aids
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. 1906 Association Drive, Reston, VA 20191. Tel: 800-235-7566; Tel: 703-620-9840; Fax: 703-476-2570; e-mail: publicationsdept@nctm.org; Web site: https://pubs.nctm.org/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
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Authoring Institution: N/A
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