Abstract:
This qualitative study explored the roles which exist between pre-service
elementary teachers and the technology tools they integrate into their mathematics lesson
plans. A total of 35 pre-service elementary teachers participated in this study in which the
researcher examined their lesson plans and reflection documents.
The project occurred during a one-semester elementary mathematics methods
course during which the participants were assigned to plan and teach three lessons, one of
which required the use of technology. While writing their lesson plans, participants
completed a three-page reflection document to explain their uses of technology. In
addition, participants were asked to complete a survey, and selected participants were
invited to participate in interviews.
The results of this study suggest seven roles between pre-service elementary
teachers and the technology tools they integrate into their lesson plans: Technology Not
Used (TNU), TNU – Willing, TNU – Master, Master, Master – Servant, Servant, and
Servant – Partner. Two of these roles, Master and Servant, have already been documented
in the literature. The other five roles were identified in the present study. After qualitative
analysis, the researcher concluded that access to technology, cooperating teachers, and
prior experiences with technology had no significant influence on these roles. The results
of the study suggest that curriculum goals do have an influence on these roles.
Specifically, pre-service teachers who tended to choose the objective first and used
technology to support the lesson objectives were found at the higher end of the hierarchy
(Master-Servant, Servant, and Servant-Partner). Conversely, pre-service teachers who
tended to give no explicit statement regarding the role of the objective to the lesson plan
when selecting technology tools were found at the lower end of the hierarchy (in
particular, Master). Participants primarily evaluated their technology tools on the basis of
Surface Features (which includes Software Features and Motivation) rather than Content
and Instruction (which includes Learning and Mathematics.) Finally, participants
primarily identified affordances and limitations of technology tools which focused on
Surface Features rather than Content and Instruction. The reflection document completed
by the participants has potential for future use by pre-service elementary teachers in their
mathematics methods courses.
