Conference proceeding
Teachers’ Awareness of Students’ Difficulties with Algebra Word Problems
MERGA48 Beyond boundaries: Strengthening futures in mathematics education, pp.218-225
Annual Conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia (MERGA), 48th (Parramatta, Australia, 06/07/2026–10/07/2026)
08/07/2026
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Abstract
This paper reports findings from a diagnostic questionnaire completed by eight junior high school mathematics teachers in Ghana before participating in a Community of
Practice. Analysis of the questionnaire explored how the teachers’ responses revealed aspects of their pedagogical content knowledge for teaching algebra word problems,
particularly their awareness of task complexity, student reasoning, and potential misconceptions. Findings suggest that while the teachers demonstrated awareness of
common student difficulties, their pedagogical content knowledge was uneven, especially in relation to explanations, representations, and curriculum-task use.
Details
- Title
- Teachers’ Awareness of Students’ Difficulties with Algebra Word Problems
- Creators
- Osman Kasimu - University of TasmaniaCarol Murphy - University of TasmaniaVesife Hatisaru - Edith Cowan University
- Contributors
- Nathan Berger (Editor) - Western Sydney UniversityMatt Thompson (Editor) - Western Sydney UniversityJohn Ley (Editor)Cristi Wilsmore (Editor)
- Publication Details
- MERGA48 Beyond boundaries: Strengthening futures in mathematics education, pp.218-225
- Conference
- Annual Conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia (MERGA), 48th (Parramatta, Australia, 06/07/2026–10/07/2026)
- Publisher
- The Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia Inc.; Adelaide, South Australia
- Identifiers
- 991013406893102368
- Copyright
- © MERGA Inc. 2026
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Education
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Conference proceeding