PROCEEDINGS OF THE 17TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON RESEARCH IN UNDERGRADUATE MATHEMATICS EDUCATION
2014
Denver, Colorado
Current And Future Faculty Members’ Mathematical Knowledge For Teaching Calculus
Page: 1052
Findings from research into “mathematical knowledge for teaching” have informed the design of preparation and professional development programs for K-12 teachers. At the college level there has been limited research into mathematical knowledge for teaching. We lack findings that demonstrate that expert teachers of college mathematics know and make use of knowledge beyond solely mathematical content.. The goal of this study is to examine the knowledge of student thinking possessed by mathematicians who teach calculus. Data come from interviews on student thinking about core calculus concepts.. Interviewees were research mathematicians who have been recognized for their teaching excellence and mathematics graduate students.. Findings demonstrate that the mathematicians were more able to identify known student difficulties as well as to describe common strategies students use to successfully solve the problems. Implications for research and professional development for novice college mathematics instructors are discussed.