Vol.:(0123456789) Journal of Mathematics Teacher Education https://doi.org/10.1007/s10857-019-09426-3 1 3 It’s part of my life and the modelling process Linda Galligan 1,2  · Taryn Axelsen 1,3  · Toni Pennicott 4  · Ron Addie 2  · Peter Galbraith 5  · Geof Woolcott 6 © Springer Nature B.V. 2019 Abstract Mathematical modelling is increasingly becoming an integral component of mathematical curricular in primary and secondary schools throughout the world. However, in Australia modelling skills are currently rarely found in university teacher preparation courses. Lim- ited experience with modelling processes, as well as a lack of confdence and personal efcacy in the feld of mathematics, limits the ability for prospective teachers of math- ematics to develop into efective high school educators and thus concomitantly adversely afects student learning outcomes. To address the problems related to the lack of experi- ence that prospective teachers have with mathematical modelling and the associated lack of confdence and personal efcacy that can result, this paper presents a case study of a strategy—the enhancement, learning, refection (ELR) process—designed to improve pro- spective teachers’ confdence and personal efcacy in teaching mathematics, with a focus on the modelling process as a teaching strategy. Keywords Mathematics education · Mathematics modelling · Prospective teacher education · Prospective teacher confdence · Prospective teacher personal efcacy * Taryn Axelsen Taryn.Axelsen@usq.edu.au Linda Galligan Linda.Galligan@usq.edu.au 1 Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Australia 2 School of Agricultural, Computational and Environmental Sciences, Toowoomba Campus, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Australia 3 School of Agricultural, Computational and Environmental Sciences, Springfeld Campus, University of Southern Queensland, Springfeld Central, Australia 4 Springfeld Central State High School, Springfeld Central, QLD, Australia 5 School of Education, The University of Queensland, St Lucia Campus, St Lucia, QLD, Australia 6 School of Education, Lismore Campus, Southern Cross University, Lismore, Australia