Abstract:

The purpose of this research is to reveal the modeling processes of the candidates for primary mathematics teachers. This research, which is adopted by the special state study of the qualification research methods, is carried out with the teachers candidates studying in the second class of the primary mathematical teaching department (n=41). The research was carried out at a state university in the province located in the Eastern Anadolu Region in the 2013-2014 academic year. The research data were obtained from the teaching candidates' solutions to the paradox, called the "Torpion Paradox", which was revealed by the Greek mathematician Zenon, designed as a modeling problem. The data obtained from the teacher candidates were analyzed by the visual analysis method. The study found that teachers’ candidates had difficulties in fulfilling their skills in the stages of the modeling process and that these difficulties increased further in the progressive stages. In particular, the teachers’ candidates have not been sufficient to interpret and verify the results of the modeling stages. The mathematical models produced by teachers candidates are very formal and graphic, but very few mathematical models produced by teachers candidates are compatible with the logic of the problem.

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