Preservice teachers’ knowledge mobilized in solving area tasks

Abstract

Studies that address preservice teachers’ knowledge of area measurement emphasize their lack of knowledge and their tendency towards the use of formulas, without offering a body of knowledge that helps to address such difficulties. This study offers an approximation of the mathematical knowledge necessary for preservice teachers to solve area tasks. For this, the Mathematics Teacher's Specialized Knowledge model is used with emphasis on the subdomain of Knowledge of Topics and Knowledge of the Structure of Mathematics. Preservice teachers' resolutions and written justifications are analyzed using qualitative and quantitative tools. The results indicate that those resolutions that manage to mobilize mathematical knowledge are associated with the joint mobilization of different procedures, properties, and geometric principles. Results also indicate that the strategic coordination between different registers of representation allows Preservice Teachers to mobilize categories of specialized knowledge and establishing connections with other mathematical contents.