Measuring Professional Competence for the Teaching of Mathematical Modelling A Test Instrument

This open access book presents a structural model and an associated test instrument designed to provide a detailed analysis of professional competences for teaching mathematical modelling. The conceptualisation is based on the COACTIV model, which describes aspects, areas and facets of professional competences of teachers. The manual provides an overview of the essential teaching skills in application-related contexts and offers the tools needed to capture these aspects. It discusses the objectives and application areas of the instrument, as well as the development of the test. In addition, it describes the implementation and evaluates the quality and results of the structural equation analysis of the model.

Teaching mathematical modelling is a cognitively challenging activity for (prospective) teachers. Thus, teacher education requires a detailed analysis of professional competence for teaching mathematical modelling. Measuring this competence requires theoretical models that accurately describe requirements placed upon teachers, as well as appropriate evaluation tools that adequately capture skills and abilities in this field. This book presents an instrument that measures the professional competences in a sample of 349 prospective teachers.

Raphael Wess received his doctorate on Professional Competence for Teaching Mathematical Modelling as a research assistant at the Institute for Mathematics Education and Computer Science Education at the University of Münster.

 

Heiner Klock worked as a research assistant at the Department of Mathematics (Mathematics Education) at the University of Koblenz-Landau and received his doctorate at the University of Würzburg on Adaptive Intervention Competence in Mathematical Modelling Processes.

 

Prof. Dr. Hans-Stefan Siller is Professor of Mathematics Education and holds the Chair for Mathematics V at the Julius Maximilians University in Würzburg.  His research focuses on mathematical modeling, reality-related mathematics lessons, competence orientation, assessment and examination in math lessons, heterogeneity and talented students in mathematics, and the use of new media and digital technologies in math lessons.

 

Prof. Dr. Gilbert Greefrath is Professor of Mathematics Education with a focus on secondary education at the University of Münster (Germany). After receiving his doctorate in mathematics, he taught at universities in Karlsruhe and Cologne. His research focuses on mathematical modelling, the use of digital mathematical tools, the transition from school to university and the development of test and examination tasks.