Understanding class objectives and selecting tasks according to mathematical beliefs of secondary mathematics teachers

The purpose of this study is to determine how secondary school mathematics teachers interpret the geometry unit lesson objectives in relation to the characteristics of teachers' mathematical beliefs and what main tasks they present during specific classes with the interpreted lesson objectives. For this purpose, a survey was conducted targeting secondary mathematics teachers regarding mathematical beliefs, teaching goals, and task selection. As a result of the study, no evidence was obtained that there was a difference in mathematical beliefs depending on the teaching goals understood by teachers. In general, teachers were found to select class goals that correspond to knowledge and understanding, and only in some units did specific mathematical beliefs appear to influence teachers' interpretation of class goals. Second, there was no significant difference in the level of cognitive demand of tasks teachers wanted to present in class depending on the class goals. However, in certain units, it was found that there was a difference in the ratio of cognitive demand levels. The findings provide important implications for better understanding of teachers' behaviors focusing on cognitive demands of tasks and mathematical beliefs.