Authentic Investigative Activities for Teaching Ratio and Proportion in Elementary and Middle School Mathematics Teacher Education

In this study, we created, implemented, and evaluated the impact of proportional reasoning authentic investigative activities on the mathematical content and pedagogical knowledge and attitudes of pre-service elementary and middle school mathematics teachers. For this purpose, a special teaching model was developed, implemented, and tested as part of the pre-service mathematics teacher training programs conducted in Israeli teacher colleges. The model was developed following pilot studies investigating the change in mathematical and pedagogical knowledge of pre- and in-service mathematics teachers, due to experience in authentic proportional reasoning activities. The conclusion of the study is that application of the model, through which the pre-service teachers gain experience and are exposed to authentic proportional reasoning activities with incorporation of theory (reading and analyzing relevant research reports) and practice, leads to a significant positive change in the pre-service teachers' mathematical content and pedagogical knowledge. In addition, improvement occurred in their attitudes and beliefs towards learning and teaching mathematics in general, and ratio and proportion in particular.