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Conceptions of Function in Textbooks from Eighteen Countries: An Empirical Analysis of Middle School Textbooks from the Third International Mathematics and Science Study - Couverture souple

Mesa, Vilma

 
9783639131475: Conceptions of Function in Textbooks from Eighteen Countries: An Empirical Analysis of Middle School Textbooks from the Third International Mathematics and Science Study
Couverture souple
ISBN 10 : 3639131479 ISBN 13 : 9783639131475
Editeur : VDM Verlag Dr. Müller, 2009

Synopsis

The concept of function has dramatically changed the landscape of mathematics. Its introduction into school mathematics, however, has proved to be challenging. What might students learn about functions if they were to answer all the functions tasks in their seventh- and eighth-grade textbooks? In 35 textbooks from 18 countries collected by the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), there were five distinct conceptions of function: symbolic-rule, ordered-pair, social-data, physical-phenomena, and controlling-image. Symbolic-rule and ordered-pair were the most frequent. The achievement test items in TIMSS did not appear to address the same conceptions of function as the tasks in the textbooks. The TIMSS test emphasized social-data, physical-phenomena, and controlling-image conceptions over symbolic-rule and ordered-pair conceptions. Some textbooks had tasks that enacted a variety of conceptions of function whereas others only emphasized a few. These conceptions might play an important role in making the concept accessible if they could be used as springboards toward a more flexible understanding of function.

Les informations fournies dans la section « Synopsis » peuvent faire référence à une autre édition de ce titre.

Présentation de l'éditeur

The concept of function has dramatically changed the landscape of mathematics. Its introduction into school mathematics, however, has proved to be challenging. What might students learn about functions if they were to answer all the functions tasks in their seventh- and eighth-grade textbooks? In 35 textbooks from 18 countries collected by the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), there were five distinct conceptions of function: symbolic-rule, ordered-pair, social-data, physical-phenomena, and controlling-image. Symbolic-rule and ordered-pair were the most frequent. The achievement test items in TIMSS did not appear to address the same conceptions of function as the tasks in the textbooks. The TIMSS test emphasized social-data, physical-phenomena, and controlling-image conceptions over symbolic-rule and ordered-pair conceptions. Some textbooks had tasks that enacted a variety of conceptions of function whereas others only emphasized a few. These conceptions might play an important role in making the concept accessible if they could be used as springboards toward a more flexible understanding of function.

Biographie de l'auteur

Dr. Vilma Mesa is assistant professor in the School of Education at the University of Michigan. She studied mathematics and computer sciences at the University of Los Andes in Colombia and pursued graduate studies in mathematics education at the University of Georgia in the USA. She investigates mathematics teaching at the post-secondary level.

Les informations fournies dans la section « A propos du livre » peuvent faire référence à une autre édition de ce titre.

Éditeur
VDM Verlag Dr. Müller
Date d'édition
2009
Langue
anglais
ISBN 10 
3639131479
ISBN 13 
9783639131475
Reliure
Broché
Nombre de pages
200
Coordonnées du fabricant
non disponible
Personne responsable
non disponible