course-details-portlet

MGLU5503

Pre-service mathematics teachers’ professional learning (5-10)

Credits 15
Level Second degree level
Course start Autumn 2026
Duration 1 semester
Language of instruction Norwegian
Location Trondheim
Examination arrangement School exam

About

About the course

Course content

The course emphasizes how research in mathematics education can be applied in classrooms at the lower and upper secondary levels. It also focuses on mathematics teachers’ professional growth, reflection, and development. The course is divided into three modules of approximately equal scope:

Module 1: Equity and inclusion

In this module, students will explore mathematics teaching with a particular focus on equity, inclusion, and diversity. The teaching will also address multilingual classrooms, affective aspects of mathematics learning, ethnomathematics and Sámi perspectives, as well as critical mathematics education.

Module 2: Resources in mathematics teaching

This module deals with the use, adaptation, and development of various resources for mathematics teaching and learning, with a particular emphasis on ICT.

Module 3: Development of mathematics teaching practices

In this module, students will work on developing mathematics teaching practices through topics such as inquiry-based teaching, teachers’ noticing and teacher moves, task design, and assessment for and of learning.

Through their work in the course, students will strengthen their ability to make informed professional and pedagogical choices in mathematics teaching and to justify these in a reflective manner. Students will also further develop their competence in observing and analyzing teaching and learning in mathematics at the lower and upper secondary levels.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

The candidate has

  • a broad range of knowledge about modern research findings in inclusive mathematics education,
  • advanced knowledge of the resource approach in mathematics education and the role that (text)books, classroom materials, and other resources play in the teaching of mathematics at the lower and upper secondary levels,
  • advanced knowledge of ICT as a communication and mediation tool in mathematics education, and of how ICT can be used to construct mathematical meanings and to support the development of algorithmic thinking in mathematics teaching at grades 5-10,
  • advanced knowledge of how mathematics teaching practices at grades 5-10 can be developed through various approaches, such as inquiry-based teaching, teachers’ noticing and teacher moves, task design, and assessment for and of learning.

Skills

The candidate can

  • plan, design, analyze, and discuss teaching activities within the perspective of inclusive mathematics education at grades 5-10,
  • refer to and critically evaluate specific resources to organize their own classroom activities, and plan and design domain-specific tasks within the mediating role of ICT and AI tools in teaching at the lower and upper secondary levels,
  • apply principles from themes such as inquiry-based teaching, task design, and assessment for and of learning in their own teaching practice,
  • use teacher noticing to identify and analyze students’ mathematical thinking and apply appropriate teacher moves to support and further develop students’ mathematical reasoning in mathematics teaching at the lower and upper secondary levels.

General competence

The candidate can

  • contribute to the development of teaching practices and professional innovation in mathematics education at grades 5-10 through reflection on and exploration of their own and others’ practices within the school context,
  • critically engage with, analyze, and reflect on mathematics education as a scientific discipline.

Learning methods and activities

The teaching and learning methods will alternate between lectures, literature studies, work on assignments (individually and groups), discussions, as well as oral students’ presentations. Academic discussions and interactions are important ways of working and learning, and it is expected that the candidates actively contribute to such activities.

Teaching Language

Norwegian or English

Compulsory assignments

  • Mandatory work requirement according to the course description

Further on evaluation

Mandatory activities

  • Mandatory attendance in teaching sessions: 75%
  • Up to 2 oral group presentations, one of which is linked to the practicum assignment on professional learning addressed in the course
  • Up to 8 written assignments

The semester plan will specify the number and timing of these activities. The group’s oral presentations are mandatory and must be approved. The written assignments are assessed as approved or not approved, and at least 75% of them must be approved for the candidate to be eligible to take the exam.

The students can be assessed, required to take part in coursework and required to attend teaching related to interdisciplinary topics.

Exam

Written school exam (6 hours). The exam is assessed with letter grades A to F.

Aids: Computer with specified software and websites. The permitted software and websites will be announced at the beginning of the semester.

Specific conditions

Admission to a programme of study is required:
Primary and Lower Secondary Teacher Education for Years 5-10 (MGLU5-10) - some programmes

Required previous knowledge

Passed Mathematics 1 and Mathematics 2 (total of 60 credits) or equivalent.

Course materials

The course material is mainly scientific papers written in English. The final reading list will be published on Canvas at the beginning of the semester.

Credit reductions

Course code Reduction From
DID3403 7.5 sp Autumn 2020
SKOLE6023 4 sp Autumn 2020
This course has academic overlap with the courses in the table above. If you take overlapping courses, you will receive a credit reduction in the course where you have the lowest grade. If the grades are the same, the reduction will be applied to the course completed most recently.

Subject areas

  • Teacher Education
  • Mathematics

Contact information

Course coordinator

Department with academic responsibility

Department of Teacher Education

Examination

Examination

Examination arrangement: School exam
Grade: Letter grades

Ordinary examination - Autumn 2026

School exam
Weighting 100/100 Examination aids HJELPEMIDD Duration 6 hours Exam system Inspera Assessment Place and room Not specified yet.

Ordinary examination - Spring 2027

School exam
Weighting 100/100 Examination aids HJELPEMIDD Duration 6 hours Exam system Inspera Assessment Place and room Not specified yet.