Developing Probabilistic Reasoning in Preservice Teachers: Comparing the Learner-Centered and Teacher-Centered Approaches of Teaching

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46328/ijses.35

Keywords:

Probabilistic reasoning, Constructivism, Teacher-centered approach, Misconceptions, Preservice teachers, College of education

Abstract

Many studies have examined the learner-centered and teacher-centered approaches of teaching, but none seems to have compared the two approaches in developing preservice teachers’ probabilistic reasoning by targeting probability misconceptions. This paper calls for assessment of the two teaching methods based on recent findings and new methodologies. This study, therefore, examined preservice teachers’ probabilistic reasoning by comparing the learner-centered and teacher-centered approaches of teaching probability targeted at addressing probabilistic misconceptions. In this quasi-experimental research, 59 preservice teachers comprising 32 in Group A and 27 in Group B were used. The results showed that learner-centered approach had a statistically significant positive effect on preservice teachers’ probabilistic reasoning [F (1, 56) = 114.955; p = .000 < .05]. This means that the learner-centered approach was more effective than the teacher-centered approach in developing preservice teachers’ probabilistic reasoning. Thus, it was recommended that the learner-centered approach of teaching directed at addressing misconceptions be used to develop probabilistic reasoning in preservice teachers to help improve their problem-solving ability in probability.  

Author Biographies

Evans Kofi Hokor, St. Teresa’s College of Education

Evans Kofi Hokor is a Tutor at the Department of Mathematics and ICT at St. Teresa's College of Education, Hohoe, Ghana. His research focuses on probabilistic reasoning, mathematical reasoning, statistical reasoning, critical thinking, statistics and probabilistic literacy, statistical inference, critical pedagogy and mathematics instruction. 

John Sedofia, University of Ghana, Legon

John Sedofia is a Lecturer and counsellor at the Department of Teacher Education, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana. John’s research interests include school/academic counselling, teacher education and development, teaching, learning.

References

Hokor, E. K. & Sedofia, J. (2021). Developing probabilistic reasoning in preservice teachers: Comparing the learner-centered and teacher-centered approaches of teaching. International Journal of Studies in Education and Science (IJSES), 2(2), 120-145.

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Published

2021-08-23

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Articles