The modelling process and pre-service teacher confidence

Many teachers and pre-service teachers of mathematics lack experience with teaching methods, such as mathematical modelling, that require a conceptual learning and problem solving approach. To address this problem, this paper presents a study of a method – the Enhancement, Learning, Reflection (ELR) process – that has been designed to improve preservice students’ confidence in teaching mathematics, with a particular focus on the use of modelling as a teaching method. Results from the case study show that the PST participants involved in the ELR process did indeed experience an increase in confidence in their ability to present the modelling concept to a classroom of high school students.