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Spontaneous meta-arithmetic as the first step toward algebraic discourse | Prof. Anna Sfard (University of Haifa, Israel)

Kurzbeschreibung:
Startdatum: 20.11.2018 - 16:00
Enddatum: 20.11.2018 - 17:30
Adresse: MZH 6210
Organisator/Ansprechpartner:,
Preis: 0€

The aim of the study to be presented in this talk was to map the development of children’s algebraic thinking, from  its informal beginnings in early years through the introduction of symbolic algebra in school. Taking as the point of departure the vision of school algebra as a formalized meta-discourse of arithmetic, we have been following five pairs of 7th grade students as they progress in algebraic discourse during 24 months, from their informal algebraic talk to the formal algebraic discourse, as taught in school. The analysis follows changes that occur along time in the discourse produced by the students when they deal with specific types of algebraic problems. In this talk I take a look at the earliest stage in this process. Our data have shown, unsurprisingly, that while reflecting on arithmetic processes and relations, the uninitiated 7th graders were employing colloquial means, which proved helpful, but could not protect them against occasional ambiguities. Unexpectedly, this spontaneous meta-arithmetic, although not supported by any previous algebraic schooling, displayed some algebra-like features, not to be normally found in everyday discourses. This finding prompted us to extend the study and take a look at spontaneous meta-arithmetic of even younger students. Our data collected among 5th graders confirmed that informal algebraic discourse emerges early, and they shed light on the gradual evolution of meta-arithmetic in the span of the two years prior to the formal introduction of algebra in school.

Einladung von Prof. Bikner-Ahsbahs