Abstract
ERRORS OF PROSPECTİVE SECONDARY SCHOOL MATHEMATICS TEACHERS IN PROBLEMS REQUIRING ELEMENTARY ROW OPERATIONS IN LINEAR ALGEBRA COURSE
The current study focused on elementary row operations used in solving some problems in linear algebra course. The aim of the study was to determine the errors made by prospective secondary school mathematics teachers while using elementary row operations for matrix operations, the solution system of linear equations and of some questions in linear algebra course. The study in which qualitative approach was used, carried out with 81 prospective teachers in a State University. Data was collected through data form including 4 open ended questions. Answers were examined by two field experts independently and findings were presented in themes. As a result, it was found that prospective teachers generally had operation errors while using elementary row operations. Besides, prospective teachers’ lack of knowledge and terms which has a crucial role and also required for problem solving directed them making some errors. It was also observed that prospective teachers had some errors in logical construction of solutions and mathematics language that they used as a result of exam-oriented education in high school level. As a result of the study, it was proposed that students should solve conceptual and proving skills-based problems before coming to university level. It was also stated that mathematical language such as symbols, quantifiers which have an important place in mathematics should be emphasized more in education programs.
Keywords
Linear algebra, Elementary row operations, Prospective secondary mathematics teachers, Errors.
