Pre-service teacher`s specialised knowledge on area of flat figures

Abstract

This study aims to characterise elements of specialised knowledge of a group of preservice teachers (PST) when solving area tasks. Emphasis is placed on the subdomain of Knowledge of Topics. The written justifications and procedures used in the resolution of one area task are analysed using mixed methods, including qualitative and quantitative analysis. The results indicate that PST who manage to respond to the demand of the task mobilise different registers of representation as well as procedures, justifications, properties, and geometric principles. Results suggest that the use of different representations in the resolution process has an instrumental value that allows other indicators of the subdomain of Knowledge of Topics to be mobilised.