The Effect of Experiences of Comparing International Mathematics Curricula on Prospective Mathematics Teachers' Views on Primary Mathematics Curriculum

This research was conducted among prospective mathematics teachers during the 2023-2024 academic year at a university in the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey. The study's primary objective was to investigate the impact of comparative experiences with international mathematics curricula on the perceptions and attitudes of prospective mathematics teachers towards the elementary mathematics curriculum in Turkey. Specifically, the study aimed to explore how the experiences gained by prospective mathematics teachers through the examination of international mathematics curricula reflected their perceptions and attitudes towards their country's elementary mathematics curriculum. In the study, a one-group pretest-posttest experimental design was used and supported by interviews. The sample consisted of 10 prospective mathematics teachers enrolled in an elective course called "Comparison of Mathematics Teaching Programs." The findings indicate that the experience of analysing international mathematics curricula positively influenced the participants' perceptions and attitudes towards teaching programmes. Prospective teachers suggested improvements such as developing a curriculum closer to international standards, increasing student-centeredness, and diversifying assessment and evaluation methods. The results provide significant insights for developing elementary mathematics curricula and underscore the importance of integrating global perspectives into teacher education programs.