Ní Shúilleabháin, Aoibhinn
ORCID: 0000-0003-4823-495X, Ní Ríordáin, Máire
ORCID: 0000-0002-6434-9899, Prendergast, Mark
ORCID: 0000-0002-1766-7421 and Johnson, Patrick
ORCID: 0000-0001-5346-0260
(2021)
Mathematical Content Knowledge of Pre-Service Teachers: Implications for Consecutive ITE Programmes.
Irish Educational Studies, 42
(1).
pp. 1-20.
ISSN 0332-3315
Abstract
This study examines the mathematical content knowledge (MCK) of pre-service post-primary
mathematics teachers (N=85) on commencing their Professional Master of Education (PME)
initial teacher education (ITE) programme. Participants’ cognitive and conceptual proficiency
with curriculum-aligned mathematical content was evaluated using a validated paper and
pencil test, on commencement of their PME studies. Findings indicate that pre-service
mathematics teachers exhibit stronger proficiency with Junior-Cycle curriculum-aligned
content and weak proficiency with Senior-Cycle concepts, regardless of the curriculum strand.
Given the lack of recent research examining MCK relating to pre-service teachers, and the
focus of postgraduate ITE programmes on pedagogical aspects of teaching, this research
identifies concerns with ITE programmes that may need to be addressed to support pre-
service mathematics teachers’ development and induction into the profession.
Keywords: mathematical content knowledge; pre-service teachers; consecutive ITE
Metadata
| Item Type: | Article (Published) |
|---|---|
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Mathematical content knowledge; pre-service teachers; consecutive ITE |
| Subjects: | Social Sciences > Education Social Sciences > Teaching Mathematics |
| DCU Faculties and Centres: | DCU Faculties and Schools > Institute of Education > School of STEM Education, Innovation, & Global Studies Research Institutes and Centres > Research Centre in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education (CASTel) |
| Publisher: | Taylor & Francis |
| Official URL: | https://doi.org/10.1080/03323315.2021.1899030 |
| Copyright Information: | Authors |
| ID Code: | 32993 |
| Deposited On: | 21 Jul 2026 11:54 by Aaron Barry . Last Modified 21 Jul 2026 11:54 |
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