Development of Mathematics Teacher’s Preparation Programs in the Light of STEM Education

Abstract

The study aimed to reveal the reality of keeping pace with the preparation programs of mathematics teachers to the requirements of STEM education and develop a suggested scenario for the development of mathematics teacher preparation programs in the light of the requirements of STEM. To this end, the analytical descriptive method was conducted, and the researcher built a list of requirements in the light of STEM education which should be included in the programs of preparation of mathematics teachers. The questionnaire was used as a data collection tool. The study sample consisted of (47) faculty members in the preparation programs of mathematics teachers in Saudi universities.

The main findings were as follows: (1) to build a list of STEM education requirements that should be included in the math teacher preparation programs, (2) the availability of professional competence of pre-service mathematics teachers in the light of the STEM was weak (M=1.49, 50%), (3) the commitment of mathematics students-teachers to improve the performance of learners with a medium means of 2.19, and 73%, (4) the use of mathematics students-teachers established the foundations of highly systematic thinking, is high, with means an average of 2.37 and 79%, and (5) the interaction of mathematics students-teachers in the educational community is high, with means of 2.46, and 82%. On the basis of these results, a proposed development of programs for the preparation of mathematics teachers in Saudi universities was developed.