Main presenter
Co-presenter(s)
Name :
Dr Mara Alagic
Name:
Dr Diana Palenz
E-mail:
mara.alagic@wichita.edu
E-mail:
palenz@math.wichita.edu
Institution or
Company:
Wichita State University
Name:
Department:
Mathematics Education
E-mail:
City:
Wichita
Name:
State/Province:
Kansas
E-mail:
Country:
USA
Name:
Type of
presentation:
Lecture : 50 minutes.
E-mail:
Conference
strand and number:
ACDCA ,
Number:
A38
Schedule:
Room:
Sunday, 10h30
1340
Related website:
Title of
presentation:
Cognitive Tools for Exploring Linear and Exponential Growth
Abstract:
Empowering teachers through the use of technology in mathematics exploration, open-ended problem solving, interpreting mathematics, developing conceptual understandings and communicating about mathematics is at the heart of BRIDGES (http://education.wichita.edu/alagic/bridges/BRIDGES.htm) professional development. Throughout the BRIDGES activities, concrete experiences have been provided to explore technology-based representations of data, graphs and functions. A particular focus of the professional development was two-dimensional: (a) deepening teachers’ understanding of linear and exponential growth via technology-based representations, and (b) providing effective context for students’ learning from the same technology-based representations, considering the fact that they do not have teachers’ standard representations in their toolbox. A variety of cognitive tools (spreadsheets, graphing calculators, hand-helds) provided for (a) visual and graphical multiple representations interconnected with appropriate simulations, (b) meaningful explorations of a variety of cases in a smaller amount of time than if standard representations had been used and (c) nurturing learning environments that support priorities of teaching for understanding and teaching for transfer. This paper will report on lessons learned in attempts to explicate some bridges between classical and technology-based representations as well as on teachers’ views on related indispensable and dispensable mathematical abilities and skills related to the concepts studied.