Time as a resource in mathematics education: comparing teacher and student perspectives

Time is a non-material resource important both for students and teachers because having time to
teach and learn is a prerequisite for successful instruction. In spite of its importance, time as a
resource is an underdeveloped field of study in mathematics education research. The study presented
in this paper focuses on exploring time from two related perspectives: a mathematics teacher and her
students. The study encompassed their experience with time in different aspects of mathematics
education as well as the interactions of time with other resources. The findings indicated that the
teacher and her students highly value time as a resource, and their views and experiences of time
correspond in many aspects. Well-designed and extensive teacher lesson plans affected the efficient
use of student time, particularly time-consuming activities such as teamwork and problem solving.