Analyses and validation of central assessment instruments of the research program TEDS-M

The TEDS-Validate project has been carried out within the research program derived from Teacher Education and Development Study: Learning to Teach Mathematics (TEDS-M). In this chapter, we describe the aim of the study, which is related to the question of whether research findings brought forward by measurement instruments to test professional competence of mathematics teachers have predictive validity for the quality of their classroom instruction and the learning gains of their students. Based on this, we question whether situation-specific skills (measured via video-based assessments) contribute to explain instructional quality and learning gains of students – in addition to the effects of professional knowledge of teachers. To answer the research questions, data was collected in Thuringia, Saxony and Hesse from 2016 to 2019 with a survey of 113 in-service teachers. They were tested using web-based instruments to capture their mathematics, mathematics pedagogical and general pedagogical knowledge as well as their noticing competencies. TEDS-Validate points out the broad applicability of the instruments for the comprehensive measurement of mathematics teachers competencies. To evaluate the effects of prospective teachers’ practical activities during their school practicum within the master study of initial teacher education, these instruments will be applied in a follow-up transfer project.