EVOLUTION OF PRE-SERVICE MATHEMATICS TEACHERS’ SPATIAL VISUALISATION SKILLS DURING A COGNITIVE LOAD THEORY-BASED EDUCATION

TitleEVOLUTION OF PRE-SERVICE MATHEMATICS TEACHERS’ SPATIAL VISUALISATION SKILLS DURING A COGNITIVE LOAD THEORY-BASED EDUCATION
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2024
AuthorsKurban, F
JournalProblems of Education in the 21st Century
Volume82
Issue2
Start Page202-235
PaginationContinuous
Date PublishedApril/2024
Type of ArticleOriginal article
ISSN1822-7864
Other NumbersE-ISSN 2538-7111
Keywordsacquiring an expert spatial problem-solving schema, Cognitive Load Theory, the development of spatial visualisation skills, theory-testing method
Abstract

This study explores how pre-service mathematics teachers’ spatial visualisation skills evolved during a Cognitive Load Theory (CLT) based education. The study used the qualitative theory-testing case study method, which guided the identification of participants, the design of technology-supported education, and the data collection and analysis process. The four participants meeting specific criteria were selected as the study sample. A CLT-based education equipped with technology was provided to help participants overcome difficulties in spatial visualisation problems, improve their existing schemas, and build higher-order schemas. Various teaching approaches (e.g., worked examples) were applied to optimise participants’ learning in CLT-based education. The study data (e.g., transcripts of interviews) were analysed using the pattern-matching technique, in which the observed patterns were compared with the derived hypotheses from the theoretic models regarding the problem-solving process and novice-expert schemas. The study achieved remarkable results: In CLT-based education, where teaching approaches have an important role, the improvement in their spatial visualisation skills happened as the participants overcame their challenges in problem-solving steps throughout their cyclic problem-solving processes and gained more knowledge and skills. The participants’ acquisition of expertise in spatial visualisation skills went through various developmental stages. They strengthened their initial spatial problem-solving schemas by completing the deficiencies in their prior knowledge. They gained practicality in same-category tasks and constructed higher-order problem-solving schemas when dealing with high-category tasks by activating their assimilation and adaptation processes.

URLhttps://oaji.net/articles/2023/457-1715414739.pdf
DOI10.33225/pec/24.82.202
Refereed DesignationRefereed
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