Examination of Primary Mathematics Student Teachers’ Modelling Competencies

<p>Modelling competencies are the competencies to understand the real problem and to set up a model based on reality, to set up a mathematical model from the real model, to solve mathematical questions within this mathematical model, to interpret mathematical results in a real situation, and to validate the solution (Blum &amp; Kaiser, 1997, cited in Maaß, 2006). The purpose of this study is to examine modelling competencies of primary mathematics student teachers in the solution process of a modelling problem. The approaches primary mathematics student teachers were videotaped and analyzed using thematic coding. In accordance with the data obtained from the study, it was identified that the participants showed approaches in the context of all competencies except the competencies to interpret mathematical results in a real situation. The participants showed inadequate approaches on interpreting the obtained mathematical results.</p><p><strong>Key Words:</strong> Mathematical modelling, modelling problem, modelling competencies, primary mathematics student teachers