Exploring the explanation of pre-service teacher in mathematics teaching practice

Abstract

This study aims to describe the types of explanations made by pre-service teachers in mathematics learning. In this research, the types of explanations are used to describe the explanatory trends used by pre-service teachers in mathematics teaching. The descriptive qualitative research was chosen in this research. The research subjects are pre-service teacher as the students of Mathematics Education of PGRI Madiun University and Madura University who are studying Field Experience Practice. Of the 105 mathematics student, five students with a cumulative grade achievement of more than 3.50 were observed during the teaching practice at the school for approximately five meetings. The research data was obtained from observation, video recording, and interview. Data analysis was done through data condensation, data presentation, and conclusion/verification focused on pre-service teacher explanation on mathematics learning activity. The research findings indicate that the explanation used by the pre-service teacher in the mathematics learning starting from the most frequently used is the descriptive explanation (51,7%), giving of reason (36,2%) and interpretative (12,1%). Descriptive explanations are used to describe mathematical procedures. The type of reason-giving explanation is used to explain reasons based on mathematical principles. Furthermore, the interpretative explanation is used to explain the concepts and facts of mathematics.