2021 Research in Undergraduate Mathematics Education Reports
2021
N/A
A Preservice Teacher’s Experience of Mathematical Research
Page: 206
As part of a summer research project, an undergraduate named Anabella (pseudonym) and I (author) collaborated in efforts to prove an unsolved conjecture from the field of graph theory. Anabella is a Hispanic mother who one day desires to be an elementary or middle school teacher. The researcher collected and analyzed extensive data in order to understand what Anabella learned about the nature of mathematics through the research experience as well as how she perceived this new knowledge is relevant to her future as a teacher of mathematics. Anabella learned that her own mathematical ideas are valuable and reflected that it will be important to entertain and consider (rather than dismiss) the ideas of her future mathematics students. She also gained a new appreciation of the importance of mathematical communication.