Investigation of the computational estimation skills of and strategies employed by pre-service primary school teacher

Gonul Gunes

doi:10.29333/iejme/12057

Full Text (PDF)

Gonul Gunes ¹ ^*

More Detail

¹ Fatih Education Faculty, Trabzon University, Trabzon, TURKEY^* Corresponding Author

Abstract

This study intends to review the operational estimation skills of pre-service primary school teachers, and to see if they are able to use the correct strategy when making estimates. For this purpose, the “estimation skills test” comprised of 41 questions allowing estimates using 14 distinct estimation strategies was used. 209 pre-service primary school teachers took part in the study. The responses provided by the pre-service teachers were scored on the basis of the accuracy of the estimation. Furthermore, the responses to the questions in the test were scored with reference to the applicability of the estimation method, on a binary scale of 0 and 1. The study revealed that the pre-service primary school teachers had mediocre operational estimation skills, and that majority of them failed to use the optimal strategy. In this context, one should recommend the offering of undergraduate courses to pre-service primary school teachers to improve their estimation skills.

Keywords

mathematics education
computational estimation skills
pre-service primary school teachers
teacher education

License

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Article Type: Research Article

INT ELECT J MATH ED, Volume 17, Issue 3, August 2022, Article No: em0689

https://doi.org/10.29333/iejme/12057

Publication date: 28 Apr 2022

Article Views: 1473

Article Downloads: 945

Open Access Disclosures References How to cite this article

Disclosure

Declaration of Conflict of Interest: No conflict of interest is declared by author(s).

Data sharing statement: Data supporting the findings and conclusions are available upon request from the corresponding author(s).

References

Alajmi, A., & Reys, R. (2007). Reasonable and reasonableness of answers: Kuwaiti middle school teachers’ perspectives. Educational Studies in Mathematics, 65(1), 77-94. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10649-006-9042-4
Aslan, E. (2011). Evaluating of estimation skill of the elementary school fifth grade mathematic course program in terms of teachers’ views [Unpublished master’s thesis]. Cukurova University.
Aytekin, C. (2012). Investigating the middle school students’ estimation ability with respect to fractions [Unpublished master’s thesis]. Abant Izzet Baysal University.
Babbie, E. (2013). The practice of social research. Wadsworth.
Bestgen, B. J., Reys, R. E., Rybolt, J. F., & Wyatt, J. W. (1980). Effectiveness of systematic instruction on attitudes and computational estimation skills of preservice elementary teachers. Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, 11(2), 124-136. https://doi.org/10.5951/jresematheduc.11.2.0124
Boz, B., & Bulut, S. (2012). A case study about computational estimation strategies of seventh graders. Elementary Education Online, 11(4), 979-994.
Bozkurt, E., & Yavasca, H. (2021). Investigation of primary school teachers’ perceptions and teaching processes about mathematical estimation skill. Journal of Computer and Education Research, 9(11), 225-247. https://doi.org/10.18009/jcer.847829
Boz-Yaman, B., & Bulut, S. (2017). Middle school mathematics teachers’ opinions on estimation. Necatibey Faculty of Education Electronic Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 11(1), 48-80. https://doi.org/10.17522/balikesirnef.354985
Brade, G.A. (2003). The effect of a computer activity on young children’s development of numerosity estimation skills [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. State University of New York at Buffalo.
Cilingir, D., & Turnuklu, E. B. (2009). Estimation ability and strategies of the 6^th-8^th grades elementary school students. Elementary Education Online, 8(3), 637-650.
Crites, T. (1992). Skilled and less skilled estimators’ strategies for estimating discrete quantities. Elementary School Journal, 92(5), 601-619. https://doi.org/10.1086/461709
Desli, D., & Lioliou, A. (2020). Relationship between computational estimation and problem solving. International Electronic Journal of Mathematics Education, 15(3), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.29333/iejme/8435
Dowker, A. (1992). Computational estimation strategies of professional mathematicians. Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, 23(1), 45-55. https://doi.org/10.5951/jresematheduc.23.1.0045
Goodman, T. (1991). Computational estimation skills of pre‐service elementary teachers. International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, 22(2), 259-272. https://doi.org/10.1080/0020739910220210
Gooya, Z., Khosroshahi, L. G., & Teppo, A. R. (2011). Iranian students’ measurement estimation performance involving linear and area attributes of real-world objects. ZDM Mathematics Education, 43, 709-722. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11858-011-0338-1
Hanson, S. A., & Hogan, T. P. (2000). Computational estimation skill of college students. Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, 31(4), 483-499. https://doi.org/10.2307/749654
Heinrich, E. J. (1998). Characteristics and skills exhibited by middle school students in performing the task of computational estimation [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Fordham University.
Hildreth, D. J. (1983). The use of strategies in estimating measurements. The Arithmetic Teacher, 30(5), 50-54. https://doi.org/10.5951/AT.30.5.0050
Hogan, T. P., & Brezinski, K. L. (2003). Quantitative estimation: One, two, or three abilities? Mathematical Thinking and Learning, 5(4), 259-280. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327833MTL0504_02
Jones, M. G., & Taylor, A. R. (2009). Developing a sense of scale: Looking backward. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 46(4), 460-475. https://doi.org/10.1002/tea.20288
Jones, M. G., Gardner, G. E., Taylor, A. R., Forrester, J. H., & Andre, T. (2012). Students’ accuracy of measurement estimation: Context, units, and logical thinking. School Science and Mathematics, 112(3), 171-178. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1949-8594.2011.00130.x
Joram, E., Subrahmanyam, K., & Gelman, R. (1998). Measurement estimation: Learning to map the route from number to quantity and back. Review of Educational Research, 68(4), 413-449. https://doi.org/10.3102/00346543068004413
Karasar, N. (2011). Bilimsel araştırma yöntemi [Scientific research method]. NobelA.
Kilic, C., & Olkun, S. (2013). Primary school students’ measurement estimation performance and strategies they used in real life situations. Elementary Education Online, 12(1), 295‐307.
Kilic, O., & Cinoglu, M. (2008). Bilimsel araştırma yöntemleri [Scientific research methods]. Lisans Publishing.
Kose, K. (2013). The relationship between the measuremental operational ability to predict and mathematical literacy of eight grade students [Unpublished master’s thesis]. Erzincan University.
Levine, D. J. (1982). Strategy use, and estimation ability of college students. Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, 13, 350-359. https://doi.org/10.5951/jresematheduc.13.5.0350
Luwel, K., & Verschaffel, L. (2008). Estimation of ‘real’ numerosities in elementary school children. European Journal of Psychology of Education, 23(3), 319-338. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03173002
MEB. (2005). Primary mathematics (1-5. classes) curriculum and guide. MEB Publishing.
MEB. (2009). Primary mathematics (1-5. classes) curriculum. MEB Publishing.
MEB. (2015). Primary mathematics (1-5. classes) curriculum. MEB Publishing.
MEB. (2018). Mathematics curriculum (primary and secondary school grades 1-8). MEB Publishing.
Miller, S.A. (1998). Developmental research methods. Prentice-Hall, Inc.
Munakata, M. (2002). Relationships among estimation ability, attitude toward estimation, category width and gender in students of grades 5-11 [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Columbia University.
Pilten, P., & Yener, D. (2009). Evaluating the skills of the primary school students in analyzing mathematical patterns and making predictions. The Journal of SAU Education Faculty, 18, 62-78.
Reys, B. J. (1986). Teaching computational estimation: Concepts and strategies. In H. L. Schoen, & M. J. Zweng (Eds.), Estimation and mental computation: 1986 yearbook (pp.31-45). National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
Reys, B. J., Reys, R. E., & Penafiel, A. F. (1991). Estimation performance and strategy use of mexican 5th and 8th grade student sample. Educational Studies in Mathematics, 22(4), 353-375. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00369295
Reys, R. E. (1984). Mental computation and estimation: Past, present, and future. The Elementary School Journal, 84(5), 546-557. https://doi.org/10.1086/461383
Reys, R. E. (1985). Estimation. The Arithmetic Teacher, 32(6), 37-41. https://doi.org/10.5951/AT.32.6.0037
Reys, R. E., & Bestgen, B. J. (1981). Teaching and assessing computational estimation skills. The Elementary School Journal, 2(82), 116-127. https://doi.org/10.1086/461246
Reys, R. E., Lindquist, M. M., Lambdin, D. V., & Smith, N. L. (2009). Helping children learn mathematics. John Wiley & Sons.
Reys, R. E., Rybolt, J. F., Bestgen, B. J., & Wyatt, J. W. (1982). Processes used by good computational estimators. Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, 13(3), 183-201. https://doi.org/10.5951/jresematheduc.13.3.0183
Rubenstein, R. N. (1985). Computational estimation and related mathematical skills. Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, 16(2), 106-119. https://doi.org/10.5951/jresematheduc.16.2.0106
Rubenstein, R. N. (1986). Varieties of estimation. In H.L. Schoen, & M.J. Zweng (Eds.), Estimation and mental computation: 1986 yearbook (pp. 157-161). National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
Segovia, I., & Castro, E. (2009). Computational and measurement estimation; curriculum foundations and research carried out at the University of Granada. Electronic Journal of Research in Educational Psychology, 7(1), 499-536.
Sengul, S. (2013). Identification of number sense strategies used by pre-service elementary teachers. Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice, 13(3), 1965-1974.
Sengul, S., & Gulbagci-Dede, H. (2014). The strategies of mathematics teachers when solving number sense problems. Turkish Journal of Computer and Mathematics Education, 5(1), 73-88. https://doi.org/10.16949/turcomat.67936
Siegler, R. S., & Booth, J. L. (2004). Development of numerical estimation in young children. Child Development, 75(2), 428-444. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2004.00684.x
Siegler, R. S., & Opfer, J. E. (2003). The development of numerical estimation: Evidence for multiple representations of numerical quantity. Psychological Science, 14(3), 237-243. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9280.02438
Sowder, J. T. (1984). Computational estimation procedures of school children. Journal of Educational Research, 77(6), 332-336. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220671.1984.10885551
Sowder, J. T. (1992). Estimation and number sense. In D. A. Grouws (Ed.), Handbook of research on mathematics teaching and learning: A project of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (pp. 371-389). Macmillan.
Sowder, J. T., & Wheeler, M. M. (1989). The development of concepts and strategies used in computational estimation. Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, 20(2), 130-146. https://doi.org/10.5951/jresematheduc.20.2.0130
Sulak, B. (2008). Investigation of usage of mathematical estimation strategies of preservice elementary teachers [Unpublished master’s thesis]. Hacettepe University.
TDK. (2020). Turkish dictionary. Turkish Language Institution. http://www.tdk.gov.tr/
Tekinkir, D. (2008). To determine the estimate strategies in maths field for the primary school students of 6th-8th grades and the relation between the estimate ability and success for maths [Unpublished master’s thesis]. Dokuz Eylul University.
Van de Walle, J. A. (1994). Elementary school mathematics teaching developmentally. Longman.
Van de Walle, J. A. (2004). Elementary and middle school mathematics: Teaching developmentally. Allyn & Bacon.
Van den Heuvel-Panhuizen, M. (2001). Estimation. In M. Van den Heuvel-Panhuizen (Ed.) Children learn mathematics (pp. 173-202). Freudenthal Institute.
Yang, D. C. (2007). Investigating the strategies used by pre-service teachers in Taiwan when responding to number sense questions. School Science and Mathematics, 107, 293-301. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1949-8594.2007.tb17790.x

How to cite this article

APA

Gunes, G. (2022). Investigation of the computational estimation skills of and strategies employed by pre-service primary school teacher. International Electronic Journal of Mathematics Education, 17(3), em0689. https://doi.org/10.29333/iejme/12057

Vancouver

Gunes G. Investigation of the computational estimation skills of and strategies employed by pre-service primary school teacher. INT ELECT J MATH ED. 2022;17(3):em0689. https://doi.org/10.29333/iejme/12057

AMA

Gunes G. Investigation of the computational estimation skills of and strategies employed by pre-service primary school teacher. INT ELECT J MATH ED. 2022;17(3), em0689. https://doi.org/10.29333/iejme/12057

Chicago

Gunes, Gonul. "Investigation of the computational estimation skills of and strategies employed by pre-service primary school teacher". International Electronic Journal of Mathematics Education 2022 17 no. 3 (2022): em0689. https://doi.org/10.29333/iejme/12057

Harvard

Gunes, G. (2022). Investigation of the computational estimation skills of and strategies employed by pre-service primary school teacher. International Electronic Journal of Mathematics Education, 17(3), em0689. https://doi.org/10.29333/iejme/12057

MLA

Gunes, Gonul "Investigation of the computational estimation skills of and strategies employed by pre-service primary school teacher". International Electronic Journal of Mathematics Education, vol. 17, no. 3, 2022, em0689. https://doi.org/10.29333/iejme/12057