Analysis of Perceptions on the Concept of Mathematics Teaching and Mathematics Teachers in Social Media: An Example of Participatory Dictionaries

This study presents the perceptions of participatory dictionary authors on the professional characteristics of mathematics teaching and the personality traits of mathematics teachers. The data for the study, which was designed in the document analysis pattern, which is one of the qualitative research methods, was obtained from the comments made on the participatory dictionary websites, which are the most preferred by the users. In this context, a total of 162 entries under the title "mathematics teacher" and a total of 60 entries under the title "mathematics teaching" were examined. Content analysis of the data was done, and frequencies were used in the presentation of the findings. According to the results of the study, many participatory dictionary authors think that mathematics teaching is a difficult department because it requires getting high scores in higher education institution exams, undergraduate education is challenging, and the assignment conditions are problematic. The author of the participatory dictionary considers mathematics teaching to be a demanding field with high professional expectations. In addition, it has been determined that the participatory dictionary authors' perceptions of the personality traits of mathematics teachers are mostly negative, but some authors dream of becoming mathematics teachers because they have some advantages.