Prospective Teachers’ Views About Using Origami in Mathematics Lessons

One of the usage areas of origami which is used in engineering, astronomy and medicine ismathematics education. When mathematics curriculum is examined, it is seen that there are some concepts that can be taught with the help of origami. Teachers are required to build a relationship between origami and mathematical concepts in the process of using origami in mathematics education. For this reason, investigating prospective teachers’ views and change in their views will be determining factor of using origami in their careers. In this research study, prospective teachers’ views about using origami and change in their views were investigated. Sample included 64 prospective elementary mathematics teachers who study at Faculty of Education of one of the universities in Marmara Region and took Mathematics with Origami course in 2015-2016 academic year spring semester. Prospective teachers’ opinions about using origami were received in the first and sixth week of the semester and data were analyzed by content analysis method. Prospective teachers’ views were collected under five themes and these themes were positive effects of using origami in mathematics education on teaching, learning, learning environment, student development and negative effects of origami. After the second implementation, it was seen that prospective teachers’ views changed positively and their opinions centred on positive effects of origami on teaching and learning themes. In addition, it was concluded that reasons such as crowded curriculum and classrooms, exam stress and poor fine motor skills were the opinions that prevent using origami in mathematics lessons