The study investigates the knowledge profiles of elementary pre-service teachers (PST) concerning numbers and operations before their professional classroom practice. By validating an instrument through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, it identifies and categorizes the PST' performance into distinct profiles based on the mathematical…

This study investigated how an intervention consisting of a series of physical science lessons embedded within the elementary science methods course impacted elementary preservice teachers' (N = 473) science content knowledge as evidenced in their scaled scores for the science content component of a standardized subject certification examinations…

This study investigates the pedagogical content knowledge identified in six prospective elementary teachers' written teacher practicum reports. Focusing on the three categories of pedagogical content knowledge included in the Mathematical Knowledge for Teaching framework, the study analyzes the prospective teachers' descriptions and combines their…

This research aims to demonstrate that artificial intelligence (AI) can function not only as a tool for learning, but also as an intelligent agent with which humans can engage in collaborative learning (CL) to change epistemic practices in science classrooms. We adopted a design and development research approach, following the Analysis, Design,…

Background: National and international assessments show South Africa's underperformance in mathematics. As many learners already fall behind in the early grades, where foundational number sense should be established, addressing the challenges of number sense in the Foundation Phase (FP) is important. Research recognises the need to better develop…

Previous studies of prospective elementary mathematics teachers' mathematics anxiety have documented that many prospective teachers often worry about managing their repeated experiences of anxiety while developing their pedagogical and content knowledge to teach mathematics. The literature further indicates the importance of developing learning…

Socioscientific issues (SSI) have been found to improve scientific literacy skills among K-12 students. Existing literature shows, however, that elementary preservice teachers are reluctant to implement SSI due to a lack of confidence with subject matter knowledge and knowledge of instruction concerning SSI. Previous research has focused on…

This qualitative research aimed to examine prospective mathematics teachers' perspectives about the teachers of mathematically gifted students. The participants of this study were 17 prospective secondary mathematics teachers and 23 prospective primary mathematics teachers, 40 prospective mathematics teachers in total, who have received their…

Knowledge of science content and the ability to translate knowledge into effective teaching is known as teachers' "content knowledge for teaching" (CKT). Teachers with developed CKT are able to more effectively determine instructional and assessment activities that will deepen K-12 students' scientific literacy. However, preservice…

Mathematics pre-service teachers (PSTs) engage in teaching practice under the guidance of mentor teachers during teaching practice. This qualitative study explores mentor teachers' perceptions of mathematics PSTs' preparedness to teach mathematics in primary schools. An interpretive paradigm was adopted, while a case study was employed as the…

We know that making mistakes in mathematics is an inherent attribute of doing mathematics deeply. Yet, making mistakes is at the root of mathematical fear and anxiety for elementary preservice teachers (PSTs). Valuing mistakes in mathematics is an essential part of shifting from deficient views to asset views of mistakes and having better…

With the changes in Common Core State Standards, it was essential to explore how elementary pre-service teachers' sense of fractions is developing and their thoughts about how to teach fractions. A gap in practice exists because it is unknown how pre-service elementary teachers, after student-teaching, perceive their level of in-practice knowledge…

Technology is an effective learning tool. However, the existence of technology is an anxiety for teachers because it is difficult to follow. Therefore, this research intends to analyze teacher beliefs and teacher awareness of the role of technology, as well as the relationship between beliefs and teachers' pedagogical abilities regarding the use…

This study examines how elementary preservice teachers (PSTs) develop the capacity to design inquiry-based lessons in social studies and how this capacity changes over time. Using convergent parallel mixed methods, the findings indicate that PSTs had inherent and varied content design approaches fitting their perception of lesson design as they…

The emphasis on test-based accountability has been linked with a recent decline in outdoor learning provision, particularly between the early and later stages of primary education. It also appears that pre-service teachers are inadequately prepared to teach outdoors. This paper reports on a project designed to equip a group of 15 pre-service…