Interpretations of Pre-service Elementary Mathematics Teachers on the Functions of Non-Textual Elements: Case Study on Algebra Learning Area

The study aimed to investigate how pre-service elementary mathematics teachers perceive the intended use of non-textual elements in an algebra content area of an eighth-grade mathematics textbook. Non-textual elements in this qualitative exploratory case study refer to visual representations consist...

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Main Authors: Murat Genç, Mustafa Akıncı
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Sakarya University 2023-04-01
Series:Sakarya University Journal of Education
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Online Access:https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/2756805
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author Murat Genç
Mustafa Akıncı
author_facet Murat Genç
Mustafa Akıncı
author_sort Murat Genç
collection DOAJ
description The study aimed to investigate how pre-service elementary mathematics teachers perceive the intended use of non-textual elements in an algebra content area of an eighth-grade mathematics textbook. Non-textual elements in this qualitative exploratory case study refer to visual representations consisting of components that are not only verbal, numerical, or symbolic representations. Data were collected from thirty-one undergraduate students through a task-based written questionnaire including seven non-textual elements on the algebra learning domain. Data analysis was conducted using a content analysis approach to generate themes and uncover previously unspecified patterns. The results showed that pre-service teachers’ interpretations of non-textual elements could be categorized into ten themes: (i) attractiveness, (ii) organizing, (iii) embodiment, (iv) informativeness, (v) reasoning, (vi) conciseness, (vii) essentiality, (viii) decorativeness, (ix) contextuality, and (x) connectivity. Pre-service teachers were found to have diverse but sometimes overlapping interpretations of the functions of each non-textual element. However, the functional diversity of non-textual elements may have differentiated their interpretations, as visual literacy skills and strategies are required to interpret the intended use of non-textual elements. Therefore, in order for pre-service mathematics teachers to better understand the functions of non-textual elements, various teaching approaches should be developed to support pre-service teachers’ visual literacy, and these approaches to visual literacy should be incorporated into teacher education and professional development.
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issn 2146-7455
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publishDate 2023-04-01
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spelling doaj-art-8985882084e34df59923a628689ae2d62025-08-20T03:10:46ZengSakarya UniversitySakarya University Journal of Education2146-74552023-04-011318410210.19126/suje.120072428Interpretations of Pre-service Elementary Mathematics Teachers on the Functions of Non-Textual Elements: Case Study on Algebra Learning AreaMurat Genç0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4525-7507Mustafa Akıncı1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2096-7617ZONGULDAK BÜLENT ECEVİT ÜNİVERSİTESİ, EREĞLİ EĞİTİM FAKÜLTESİZONGULDAK BÜLENT ECEVİT ÜNİVERSİTESİ, EREĞLİ EĞİTİM FAKÜLTESİThe study aimed to investigate how pre-service elementary mathematics teachers perceive the intended use of non-textual elements in an algebra content area of an eighth-grade mathematics textbook. Non-textual elements in this qualitative exploratory case study refer to visual representations consisting of components that are not only verbal, numerical, or symbolic representations. Data were collected from thirty-one undergraduate students through a task-based written questionnaire including seven non-textual elements on the algebra learning domain. Data analysis was conducted using a content analysis approach to generate themes and uncover previously unspecified patterns. The results showed that pre-service teachers’ interpretations of non-textual elements could be categorized into ten themes: (i) attractiveness, (ii) organizing, (iii) embodiment, (iv) informativeness, (v) reasoning, (vi) conciseness, (vii) essentiality, (viii) decorativeness, (ix) contextuality, and (x) connectivity. Pre-service teachers were found to have diverse but sometimes overlapping interpretations of the functions of each non-textual element. However, the functional diversity of non-textual elements may have differentiated their interpretations, as visual literacy skills and strategies are required to interpret the intended use of non-textual elements. Therefore, in order for pre-service mathematics teachers to better understand the functions of non-textual elements, various teaching approaches should be developed to support pre-service teachers’ visual literacy, and these approaches to visual literacy should be incorporated into teacher education and professional development.https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/2756805non-textual elementsmathematics textbookalgebra learning areapre-service elementary mathematics teachersmetinsel olmayan öğelermatematik ders kitabıcebir öğrenme alanıilköğretim matematik öğretmen adayları
spellingShingle Murat Genç
Mustafa Akıncı
Interpretations of Pre-service Elementary Mathematics Teachers on the Functions of Non-Textual Elements: Case Study on Algebra Learning Area
Sakarya University Journal of Education
non-textual elements
mathematics textbook
algebra learning area
pre-service elementary mathematics teachers
metinsel olmayan öğeler
matematik ders kitabı
cebir öğrenme alanı
ilköğretim matematik öğretmen adayları
title Interpretations of Pre-service Elementary Mathematics Teachers on the Functions of Non-Textual Elements: Case Study on Algebra Learning Area
title_full Interpretations of Pre-service Elementary Mathematics Teachers on the Functions of Non-Textual Elements: Case Study on Algebra Learning Area
title_fullStr Interpretations of Pre-service Elementary Mathematics Teachers on the Functions of Non-Textual Elements: Case Study on Algebra Learning Area
title_full_unstemmed Interpretations of Pre-service Elementary Mathematics Teachers on the Functions of Non-Textual Elements: Case Study on Algebra Learning Area
title_short Interpretations of Pre-service Elementary Mathematics Teachers on the Functions of Non-Textual Elements: Case Study on Algebra Learning Area
title_sort interpretations of pre service elementary mathematics teachers on the functions of non textual elements case study on algebra learning area
topic non-textual elements
mathematics textbook
algebra learning area
pre-service elementary mathematics teachers
metinsel olmayan öğeler
matematik ders kitabı
cebir öğrenme alanı
ilköğretim matematik öğretmen adayları
url https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/2756805
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