Using classroom videos to stimulate professional conversations among pre-service teachers: windows into a mathematics classroom

ABSTRACT

This paper reports on the novel use of classroom videos by 71 pre-service teachers enrolled in a one-year graduate diploma pre-service teacher education program across three Australian universities. The classroom videos were of an experienced teacher delivering a Year-6 mathematics lesson. Students observed, discussed and debated practices that were evident. Data were collected via observation protocols and through recorded focussed discussions. Pre-service teachers, even at the early phase of their course, were able to articulate theoretical explanations for events occurring in the lesson. All students, irrespective of the progression in the course, lamented the absence of prior opportunities to engage in analysis and discussion of classroom lessons. The study reinforces the value of dialectical interactions focussed on authentic teaching scenarios.

KEYWORDS:

• Pre-service teacher education
• multimedia
• mathematics teaching
• pedagogical strategies
• dialectical interactions

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Australian Government Department of Education and Training under the Enhancing the Training of Mathematics and Science Teachers (ETMST) Programme. The authors thank the participating universities and pre-service teachers who made this research possible through sharing their time, insights, and experiences.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Australian Government Department of Education and Training under the Enhancing the Training of Mathematics and Science Teachers (ETMST) Programme. [N/A];

Notes on contributors

James J. Watters

James J. Watters is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education at QUT. His main areas of research interests lie in science education and the professional development of science teachers.

Carmel M. Diezmann

Professor Carmel M. Diezmann is the Associate Dean Research at the Australian Catholic University. Her interests focus on how technologies can support the professional learning of pre-service and in-service mathematics and science teachers.

Loan Dao

Dr Loan Dao was a research associate whose research areas of interest include teacher education around professional learning and development.