Preservice teachers’ metacognitive process variables in modeling-related problem posing

For teaching mathematical modeling in schools, teachers need to create suitable problems for their students to deal with. Despite an emphasis on teaching approaches for mathematical modeling, little is known about the processes involved in posing problems based on real-world situations, referred to as modeling-related problem posing, and specifically about what has been termed “implemented anticipation” as a metacognitive process variable. To contribute to filling this research gap, this study analyzed the nature and presence of implemented anticipation among preservice teachers as they posed problems based on real-world situations. The study was conducted through qualitative research with seven preservice teachers and revealed that the decision-making process in modeling-related problem posing involves different processes of implemented anticipation, depending on the role the preservice teacher takes on. The paper discusses the implications for preparing preservice teachers to pose problems for teaching mathematical modeling.