On the way to develop open approach to mathematics in future primary school teachers

Abstract

In our contribution we focus on the possibility to develop open approach to mathematics in future primary school teachers during a university course on mathematics conducted in inquiry-based manner. In the first part of the research we analyse data obtained in the beginning and in the end of the mathematics course with respect to two main aspects related to open approach to mathematics: searching for all solutions of a task, and acceptance of different forms of notation of a given solution. Data analysis revealed in the participants three different shifts towards open approach to mathematics, and showed that after the active participation in the course each of the participants improved at least in one of the monitored aspects, and that none of the participants got worse in any of the aspects. In the second part of the research we analyse problems posed by participants several months after the end of the course, again with respect to the two aspects related to open approach to mathematics. As a special diagnostic instrument in our research we use an educational tool called Concept Cartoons.