PRE-SERVICE ENGINEER EDUCATORS LEARNING MATHEMATICS: MAPPING THE LIVED COMPLEXITY

Abstract

In this paper, we adopt a systemic perspective to investigate the teaching of mathematics in ASPETE, which is a tertiary education institute in Greece that offers a two-faceted degree: an engineer degree and a pedagogical degree as engineer educator. We focus on the complex lived reality of first year Electrical Engineers and Mechanical Engineers students through a multileveled affective mapping oftheir studying in ASPETE, including: approaches to study, confidence in learning mathematics, conceptions about mathematics and its role in their studies and career, and views about mathematics teaching effectiveness (considering both what they actually experienced and what they would prefer to experience). Thestudents were found to show a lack of preference for the surface approach (though not combined with a preference for a deep approach), a neutral-positive confidence in learning mathematics, and to be satisfied by the teachers’ effectiveness. Confidence in learning mathematics appeared to be central in the identified dynamic affect system, whilst their conceptions about mathematics seemed to be related with the desired characteristics of mathematics teaching. The students of the two departments differed in their levels of confidence in learning mathematics, which we posit that is linked with the qualitatively different affective complexity they experience.