Foundation phase students' metacognitive abilities in mathematics classes: Reflective classroom discourse using an open approach

Abstract

The research findings describe a model of experiential learning that promotes the development of foundation phase student teachers' metacognitive abilities for mathematics through classroom reflective discourse using an open approach. A case study was carried out on two foundation phase mathematics classes in South Africa's universities; data were collected through observation and focus group interviews. The research's main findings indicated that student teachers' interest in reflective classroom discourse is important using an open-approach-based mathematics class, which helped pave the way for the student teachers to exhibit metacognitive abilities relevant to the teaching and learning steps of a foundation phase mathematics class. Deciding on the type of problem to work on, posing open-ended problems to colleagues for discussion in class, stimulating students' reflective self-centred learning, whole-class discussion, comparison of a particular problem and summarising important information for selfdevelopment in teaching and learning through connecting students' mathematical ideas all formed part of reflective classroom discourse. Recommendations were made for further development of metacognitive abilities.