PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS’ PROVING SKILLS USING MATHEMATICAL INDUCTION AND THEIR VIEWS ON MATHEMATICAL PROVING

This study investigated pre-service elementary mathematics teachers’ mathematical proving skills using induction method and their views on mathematical proving; and we analyzed the correlation between these skills and views. The sampling of the study consisted of a total of 151 third and fourth grade students enrolled in the department of elementary mathematics teaching. Data was collected through Proof View Questionnaire, Mathematical Induction Knowledge Test (MIKT) and semi-structured interviews. The findings indicated that pre-service teachers have low level proof skill using mathematical induction method and they do not have a clear idea about what the proof means. It was also found that there was a positive and significant relationship between pre-service mathematics teachers’ views and proving skills using induction method.