The juxtaposition of instructor and student perspectives on mathematics courses for elementary teachers

This qualitative study examined perspectives of two key stakeholder groups, instructors and students, on mathematics content courses for prospective elementary teachers (Mathematics for Teachers [MFT] courses). A collective case study approach, which drew from the data of two cases in different but comparable settings, contributed to the robustness of the findings. Cross-case analysis of the interview data revealed several convergent themes: the role of affect in student learning, pedagogy and instructor disposition, connections to the elementary classroom, and mathematics content. The findings included both conflicting and complementary perspectives between the two key stakeholder groups. When juxtaposed, the multiple viewpoints offer insights into some of the central issues related to teaching and learning in MFT courses and suggest potential avenues for improving experiences in these courses.