Understanding Equivalence of Symbolic Expressions in a Spreadsheet-Based Environment
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- 作者：Michal Tabach and Alex Friedlander
- 关键词：Equivalence of algebraic expressions ; Distributive law ; Transformational activities ; Spreadsheet ; based environment ; Classroom research
- 刊名：International Journal of Computers for Mathematical Learning
- 出版时间：March, 2008
- 出版年：2008
- 期刊代码：88_1382-3892
- 类别：soc
- 卷：13
- 期：1
- 页码：27-46
- 数据来源：sp
摘要
Use of spreadsheets in a beginning algebra course was investigated mainly with regard to their potential to promote generalization of patterns. Less is known about their use in promoting understanding and learning of transformational activities. The overall purpose of this paper is to consider the conceptual aspects of learning a transformational skill (use of the distributive law to produce equivalent algebraic expressions) in a learning sequence composed of both spreadsheets and paper-and-pencil activities. We conducted a sequence of classroom activities in several classes, and analyzed the students’ work on a spreadsheet activity and on an assessment activity by both qualitative and quantitative methods. The findings indicate both encouraging benefits and some potential sources of difficulties caused by the use of spreadsheets at initial stages of learning symbolic transformations.