Date of Award:
5-1967
Document Type:
Thesis
Degree Name:
Master of Arts (MA)
Department:
School of Teacher Education and Leadership
Committee Chair(s)
Robert G. Hammond
Committee
Robert G. Hammond
Committee
Eldon M. Drake
Committee
G. Leon Beutler
Abstract
"New math" has drastically changed secondary mathematics and the demands on the secondary mathematics teacher. The changes and effects of changes were studied with emphasis on suggested programs in teacher preparation.
Questionnaires were given to one hundred four secondary mathematics teachers in Utah. Fifty-eight were returned, of which fifty were usable. The questionnaire contained twenty-six mathematics courses offered to mathematics education majors in Utah universities. The teachers indicated which courses were valuable to them in teaching secondary school mathematics. Rank order correlation coefficients were calculated among subgroups of the questionnaire to determine internal consistency. All coefficients were above the 1 per cent significance level. The first fifteen courses listed in rank order according to the percentage of teachers who felt each course was valuable are: college algebra, trigonometry, analytic geometry, differential calculus, modern algebra, methods for secondary mathematics teachers, mathematics for secondary school teachers, foundations of mathematics, integral calculus, number theory, history of mathematics, foundations of geometry, solid geometry, logic, and foundations of algebra.
On the basis of the courses generally recommended for prospective modern mathematics teachers by nationally interested groups and the results of the evaluations of courses by Utah mathematics teachers, the following program in mathematics was proposed for prospective mathematics teachers in Utah.
Mathematics education majors should take:
College Algebra (or equivalent)
Trigonometry (or equivalent)
Analytic Geometry
Differential Calculus
Abstract Algebra (at least one course )
College Geometry (at least one course other than Analytic Geometry)
Mathematics for Secondary School Teachers
Methods course (may be taken under the Department of Education)
After completing this basic program, teachers intending to teach grades seven, eight, or nine should choose three or more courses from the following:
Foundations of Mathematics
Additional courses in Abstract Algebra
Additional courses in College Geometry
(other than Analytic Geometry)
Number Theory
Logic
History of Mathematics
Probability and Statistics
A teacher intending to teach grades ten, eleven, or twelve should complete integral calculus and choose three or more courses from the following:
Foundations of Mathematics
Additional courses in Abstract Algebra
Additional courses in College Geometry
(other than Analytic Geometry)
Number Theory
Logic
History of Mathematics
Probability and Statistics
Additional Calculus courses
Checksum
1a07316a49237bffa6a82d7325d23afc
Recommended Citation
Philips, Harold Nolan, "A Suggested Mathematics Curriculum for Preparation of Teachers of Modern Secondary School Mathematics in Utah" (1967). All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023. 2976.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/2976
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