ERIC Number: EJ987175
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 18
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0033-2933
EISSN: N/A
Training and Deriving Precalculus Relations: A Small-Group, Web-Interactive Approach
McGinty, Jenny; Ninness, Chris; McCuller, Glen; Rumph, Robin; Goodwin, Andrea; Kelso, Ginger; Lopez, Angie; Kelly, Elizabeth
Psychological Record, v62 n2 p225-242 Spr 2012
A small-group, web-interactive approach to teaching precalculus concepts was investigated. Following an online pretest, 3 participants were given a brief (15 min) presentation on the details of reciprocal math relations and how they operate on the coordinate axes. During baseline, participants were tested regarding their ability to construct formulas for a diversified series of graphs. This was followed by online, construction-based, small-group training procedures focusing on the construction of mathematical functions and a test of novel relations. Participants then received group training in accordance with frames of coordination (same as) and frames of opposition (reciprocal of ) formula-to-graph relations. Online assessment indicated that participants showed substantial improvement over baseline and pretest performances. This was true even though, during the tests of novel relations, graphs were displayed with scattered data points instead of solid lines on the coordinate axes. Although one participant was unable to complete the second half of the experiment, we were able to train this small group employing approximately the same number of exposures needed for individual training in previous research. (Contains 3 tables and 9 figures.)
Descriptors: Teaching Methods, Calculus, Graphs, Pretests Posttests, Internet, Mathematics Instruction, Computer Uses in Education, Educational Technology, Mathematical Concepts, Web Based Instruction, Student Evaluation, Mathematics Achievement, College Students, Females, College Mathematics, Novelty (Stimulus Dimension), Computer Software
Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Mailcode 4609, Rehabilitation Institute, Carbondale, IL 62901-4609. Tel: 618-536-7704; e-mail: psychrec@siu.edu; Web site: http://www.siuc.edu/~ThePsychologicalRecord/index.html
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A