INVESTIGATING PRESERVICE MATHEMATICS TEACHERS PERCEPTION ON COGNITIVE NEEDS, TPACK LEVELS AND ALTRUISM

ABSTRACT This study examined the perception of preservice mathematics teachers on cognitive needs, TPACK levels and altruistic to teaching mathematics. The research design employed was the mixed methods approach specifically sequential explanation mixed methods. The population for this study was preservice mathematics teachers at the University of Education, Winneba of Ghana. The study employed the purposive sampling technique specifically homogeneous sampling technique to select level 300 mathematics teachers from the department of mathematics education of the University of Education, Winneba. In all, the level 300 students were 183. Sample size software tool was used to determine a sample size of 125 for the study. After the determination of the sample size, simple random sampling technique was used in selecting the respondents for the study. Questionnaire and interview protocol were used as instruments to collect data. Data collected through the questionnaire were analysed quantitatively and the interview data collected were analysed qualitatively. Results showed that: (i) the cognitive needs of the preservice mathematics teachers have been met to a very large extent; (ii) the perceived knowledge level of the preservice mathematics teachers on TPACK and its components were moderate and high; (iii) there were positive relationships among the components of TPACK, and all of the relationships were statistically significant; (iv) to a very large extent, the preservice mathematics teachers would have the altruistic to teach mathematics (especially core mathematics) after they have graduated (v) TPACK and its components combined related significantly to preservice mathematics teachers’ altruistic to teach mathematics (AtTM) and technological content knowledge and technological knowledge were the individual predictor variables that related significantly to preservice mathematics teachers’ AtTM. Recommendations were thereof made accordingly.