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Developing an Instrument of Assessing the Middle School Students' Perceptions of Mathematics Teachers' PCK

  • Xu, Yanhui (College of Mathematics and Physics, Wenzhou University)
  • Received : 2020.01.07
  • Accepted : 2020.03.09
  • Published : 2020.03.31

Abstract

Many researches proposed different models and concepts for the PCK. It is important to understand its composition. Most studies investigated the development of PCK and its influence on students' learning from the teachers' perspectives. We developed an instrument for assessing middle school students' perceptions of mathematics teachers' PCK (SPOMTPCK) to investigate the nature of PCK. Theoretical claims and empirical research in PCK were used to design questions and sub-scales for the SPOMTPCK. The face validity of the instrument was established by the expert mathematics teachers and students. A questionnaire consisting of 38 items on a five-point Likert-type scale was used for data collection from 799 middle school students. The exploratory factor analyses resulted in the development of a three-factor scale of 17 items that was proved valid and reliable, that is, pedagogical representation, understanding students and curriculum, and encouraging students' engagement. The Cronbach α coefficients of the scale was 0.935, and the Cronbach α coefficient of three factors were ranged from 0.721 to 0.912. The confirmatory factor analysis showed that the questionnaire has good construct validity and the fit indexes are good. MANOVA analysis of variance revealed that the differences in mathematics teachers' PCK identified by students of different school types and grades were statistically significant. It is a validate measurement to evaluate the perceived mathematics teachers' PCK for middle school students.

Keywords

References

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