Mathematics Student Teachers’ Epistemological Beliefs about the Nature of Mathematics and the Goals of Mathematics Teaching and Learning in the Beginning of Their Studies

Abstract

This article examines Finnish mathematics student teachers’ epistemological beliefs concerning the nature of mathematics and the goals of mathematics teaching and learning solely in the beginning of their studies at university. A total of 18 students participated in a study consisting of a short questionnaire and interviews. The data was analyzed by categorizing the views presented in terms of four mathematics-related orientations. According to the results, student teachers often regarded mathematics mainly as a static system, but their beliefs about the goals of mathematics teaching and learning consisted of features that derive from all of the four orientations. Future teachers’ beliefs can be affected by teacher education and hence the results are important for teacher educators to be recognized.