ERIC Number: EJ940839
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011-Sep
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0732-3123
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Flexibility and Coordination among Acts of Visualization and Analysis in a Pattern Generalization Activity
Nilsson, Per; Juter, Kristina
Journal of Mathematical Behavior, v30 n3 p194-205 Sep 2011
This study aims at exploring processes of flexibility and coordination among acts of visualization and analysis in students' attempt to reach a general formula for a three-dimensional pattern generalizing task. The investigation draws on a case-study analysis of two 15-year-old girls working together on a task in which they are asked to calculate the number of blocks in a three-dimensional tower of different heights. The students' activity was video- and audio-taped, fully transcribed and lasted for 50 min. The analysis discloses several instances of how the students were linking acts of visualization and analysis to reach a general formula. However, regarding flexibility, we found that it was more natural for the students to change visual format than to change analytical position and direction in their attempts to generalize the three-dimensional pattern of the task in a closed formula. (Contains 2 figures.)
Descriptors: Video Technology, Visualization, Mathematical Concepts, Mathematical Applications, Mathematics Instruction, Adolescents, Computation, Mathematical Formulas, Mathematical Logic, Learning Activities
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
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Author Affiliations: N/A