We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Examining early algebraic thinking: insights from empirical data.
- Authors
Chimoni, Maria; Pitta-Pantazi, Demetra; Christou, Constantinos
- Abstract
The aim of this study is to better understand the notion of early algebraic thinking by describing differences in grade 4-7 students’ thinking about basic algebraic concepts. To achieve this goal, one test that involved generalized arithmetic, functional thinking, and modeling tasks, was administered to 684 students from these grades. Quantitative analysis of the data yielded four distinct groups of students demonstrating a wide range of performance in these tasks. Qualitative analysis of students’ solutions provided further insight into their understanding of basic algebraic concepts, and the nature of the processes and forms of reasoning they utilized. The results showed that students in each group were able to solve different number and types of tasks, using different strategies. Results also indicated that students from all grades were present in each group. These findings suggest the presence of a consistent trend in the difficulty level across early algebraic tasks which may support the existence of a specific developmental trend from more intuitive types of early algebraic thinking to more sophisticated ones.
- Subjects
ALGEBRA education in elementary schools; SCHOOL children; PRIMARY education; MATHEMATICS education (Primary); MATHEMATICAL ability in children
- Publication
Educational Studies in Mathematics, 2018, Vol 98, Issue 1, p57
- ISSN
0013-1954
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s10649-018-9803-x