Collaborative Research: Preparing to Teach Algebra: A Study of Teacher Education

本项目旨在研究中学数学教师准备计划如何为职前教师提供发展代数教学知识的机会，并解决州一级政策中的代数期望及其与国家数学共同核心标准（CCSSM）的关系。它旨在回答两个重要的研究问题：(1)中学数学教师预备课程提供了什么机会来学习代数、代数教学和实现代数学习公平的问题？(2)中学数学教师准备课程如何解决数学共同核心州标准（CCSSM）中描述的代数、函数、建模标准和数学实践？本研究项目将采用混合方法，包括开发、试点、改进和管理数据收集工具和方案，用于基于网络的大规模国家项目调查、教师培训项目案例研究以及对实习教师的焦点小组访谈。本项目关注代数，这是数学教育中的一个重要课题，被描述为学习高等数学的基础和成功的守门人。文献中没有关于职前教师发展代数教学知识的机会的全国性调查，因此，本项目将填补文献中的空白。本项目探讨了具有国家意义的教师培养关键问题。特别是，这个拟议的项目定位良好，需要解决国家研究委员会和PCAST报告中提出的问题，即需要与教师教育计划内容相关的信息，以及需要具有丰富内容和教学知识的教师来教授代数。该项目将通过检查当前国家教师培训计划与国家数学共同核心标准（CCSSM）的密切程度来解决CCSSM问题。研究结果将对教师准备工作产生广泛的政策影响。

This project is to study how secondary mathematics teacher preparation programs provide preservice teachers opportunities to develop knowledge for teaching algebra and address algebra expectations in state-level policies and their relatinship to the Common Core State Standards for mathematics (CCSSM). It is designed to answer two important research questions: (1) What opportunities do secondary mathematics teacher preparation programs provide to learn about algebra, algebra teaching, and issues in achieving equity in algebra learning? And (2) In what ways do secondary mathematics teacher preparation programs address the algebra, functions, and modeling standards and mathematical practices described in the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM)? Mixed-methods will be employed in this research project, including developing, piloting, refining, and administering data collection instruments and protocols for a web-based large-scale national program survey, case studies of teacher preparation programs, and focus group interviews with student teachers. This project focuses on algebra, an important topic in mathematics education that has been described as both fundamental to learning advanced mathematics and a gatekeeper for success There is no national survey about pre-service teachers' opportunities to develop knowledge for teaching algebra in the literature, therefore, this project will fill a gap in the literature. This project addresses critical issues with national significance about teacher preparation. In particular, this proposed project is well-positioned and needed to address issues raised by the National Research Council and in the PCAST Reports about the need for information related to the content of teacher education programs and the need for teachers with strong content and pedagogical knowledge for teaching algebra. This project will address the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM) by examining how closely aligned the current national teacher preparation programs are with the CCSSM. The findings shall have broad policy implications regarding teacher preparation.