The Role of Simulation in Exposing Hidden Gender Biases: A Study of Motivational Discourse in Mathematics Education

This study investigated the value of simulation workshops designed to enhance motivational discourse between mathematics teachers and struggling students who have difficulty keeping up with the curriculum, especially in advanced mathematics. Grounded in the self-determination theory, we examined tea...

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Main Authors: Dafna Zuckerman, Yaacov B. Yablon, Shira Iluz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Education Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/14/11/1265
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author Dafna Zuckerman
Yaacov B. Yablon
Shira Iluz
author_facet Dafna Zuckerman
Yaacov B. Yablon
Shira Iluz
author_sort Dafna Zuckerman
collection DOAJ
description This study investigated the value of simulation workshops designed to enhance motivational discourse between mathematics teachers and struggling students who have difficulty keeping up with the curriculum, especially in advanced mathematics. Grounded in the self-determination theory, we examined teachers’ motivational discourse by having them participate in simulated individual dialogues with students, with a focus on the differences in the motivational discourse with male and female students. Twenty-nine middle school mathematics teachers (89.6% female; mean experience = 9.4 years, SD = 8.7) participated in the online simulations, each of which presented a scenario where an actor portrayed a struggling student contemplating dropping out of math class. Based on the observational measures of motivational discourse, the findings reveal significant gender disparities in that teachers tended to provide more support and autonomy to male students. Moreover, they tend to direct more frequent and intense autonomy-suppressing behaviors toward female students. The results highlight the efficacy of simulation-based workshops in uncovering teachers’ hidden behavioral patterns. It also highlights the importance of simulation-based learning to tailor professional development issues and for addressing unconscious gender biases in mathematics education.
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spelling doaj-art-a7a1ed6053a34a96afb5eeb8918a75bc2024-11-26T18:01:35ZengMDPI AGEducation Sciences2227-71022024-11-011411126510.3390/educsci14111265The Role of Simulation in Exposing Hidden Gender Biases: A Study of Motivational Discourse in Mathematics EducationDafna Zuckerman0Yaacov B. Yablon1Shira Iluz2Faculty of Education, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, IsraelFaculty of Education, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, IsraelFaculty of Education, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, IsraelThis study investigated the value of simulation workshops designed to enhance motivational discourse between mathematics teachers and struggling students who have difficulty keeping up with the curriculum, especially in advanced mathematics. Grounded in the self-determination theory, we examined teachers’ motivational discourse by having them participate in simulated individual dialogues with students, with a focus on the differences in the motivational discourse with male and female students. Twenty-nine middle school mathematics teachers (89.6% female; mean experience = 9.4 years, SD = 8.7) participated in the online simulations, each of which presented a scenario where an actor portrayed a struggling student contemplating dropping out of math class. Based on the observational measures of motivational discourse, the findings reveal significant gender disparities in that teachers tended to provide more support and autonomy to male students. Moreover, they tend to direct more frequent and intense autonomy-suppressing behaviors toward female students. The results highlight the efficacy of simulation-based workshops in uncovering teachers’ hidden behavioral patterns. It also highlights the importance of simulation-based learning to tailor professional development issues and for addressing unconscious gender biases in mathematics education.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/14/11/1265self-determination theorysimulation-based learningmotivational dialogueteacher traininggender biases
spellingShingle Dafna Zuckerman
Yaacov B. Yablon
Shira Iluz
The Role of Simulation in Exposing Hidden Gender Biases: A Study of Motivational Discourse in Mathematics Education
Education Sciences
self-determination theory
simulation-based learning
motivational dialogue
teacher training
gender biases
title The Role of Simulation in Exposing Hidden Gender Biases: A Study of Motivational Discourse in Mathematics Education
title_full The Role of Simulation in Exposing Hidden Gender Biases: A Study of Motivational Discourse in Mathematics Education
title_fullStr The Role of Simulation in Exposing Hidden Gender Biases: A Study of Motivational Discourse in Mathematics Education
title_full_unstemmed The Role of Simulation in Exposing Hidden Gender Biases: A Study of Motivational Discourse in Mathematics Education
title_short The Role of Simulation in Exposing Hidden Gender Biases: A Study of Motivational Discourse in Mathematics Education
title_sort role of simulation in exposing hidden gender biases a study of motivational discourse in mathematics education
topic self-determination theory
simulation-based learning
motivational dialogue
teacher training
gender biases
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/14/11/1265
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