TEACHERS’ KNOWLEDGE OF THE CONCEPT OF A FUNCTION: A THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

Abstract

In order to teach mathematics effectively, mathematics teachers need to have a sound mathematical knowledge, but what constitutes sound mathematical knowledge for teaching is subject to debate. This paper is an attempt to unpack what constitutes teacher knowledge of the concept of a function which is a unifying idea in the mathematics curriculum. The central components of the framework, which will be elaborated on in this paper, are: teachers’ subject matter knowledge, teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge, teachers’ technological pedagogical knowledge, technological content knowledge, and technological pedagogical content knowledge in relation to the concept of a function. The framework is informed by Shulman’s (Educational Researcher 15:4–14, 1986) Types of Teachers Knowledge Framework, Ball, Bass & Hill 29:14–17, 20–22, 43–46 (2005) Mathematical Knowledge for Teaching Framework, and Mishra & Koehler’s (Teachers College Record 108:1017–1054, 2006) Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework.