An Investigation of Preservice Physics Teachers' Use of Graphical Representations

Abstract

Graphs are very important types of representations in mathematics and science and they are seen as different kind of communication tools and a source for student learning of science. The purpose of this study is to investigate preservice physics teachers' use of graphs. First, the written test that includes tasks related to graphing skills applied to preservice physics teachers. Then clinical interviews are made with selected students. In written test students are asked to read and interpret graphs, to formulate algebraic equations of the graphs, to construct graphs of algebraic function rules, to comprehend informations depicted in graphs. (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer review under responsibility of Prof. Dr. Huseyin Uzunboylu