Assessing a hierarchy of pre-service secondary mathematics teachers’ algebraic thinking

Lim, Hooi Lian

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Type :	Article
Subject :	QA Mathematics
ISSN :	2232-1926
Main Author :	Lim, Hooi Lian
Additional Authors :	Wun, Thiam Yew Noraini Idris
Title :	Assessing a hierarchy of pre-service secondary mathematics teachers’ algebraic thinking
Hits :	2

Place of Production :	Tanjong Malim
Publisher :	Fakulti Teknikal dan Vokasional
Year of Publication :	2011
Notes :	Vol. 1 (2011): International Journal of Assessment and Evaluation in Education
Corporate Name :	Perpustakaan Tuanku Bainun
PDF Full Text :	Login required to access this item.

Abstract : Perpustakaan Tuanku Bainun

The purpose of this study was to assess a hierarchy of Malaysian pre-service secondary mathematics teachers_ algebraic thinking in using equation. The content domains incorporated in this framework were linear pattern (pictorial), direct variation, concept of function, arithmetic sequence and inverse variation. The SOLO model was used for coding the pre-service secondary mathematics teachers_ responses and the Rasch model (rating scale analysis) was used to clarify the construction of the hierarchy. The participants of this study consisted of 120 pre-service secondary mathematics teachers who were first year and second year students in a local university. They were given a pencil-and-paper test. The test comprised ten superitems. Results of the study revealed that seven different levels of algebraic thinking were identified, namely prestructural, unistructural, multistructural, lower relational, relational, upper relational and extended abstract. Results of the study also indicated that 57.5% of the pre-service secondary mathematics teachers performed at least at the lower relational level (algebraic thinking level), 42.5% of them performed at the multistructural level and below (pre-algebraic thinking level). The results provided evidence of the significance of the SOLO model in assessing algebraic thinking amongst the pre-service secondary mathematics teacher. Keywords algebraic thinking, assessing, equation, Rasch Model, SOLO Model, preservice secondary mathematics teacher

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