ERIC Number: EJ809621
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008-Oct
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0013-1954
EISSN: N/A
Shedding Light on and with Example Spaces
Goldenberg, Paul; Mason, John
Educational Studies in Mathematics, v69 n2 p183-194 Oct 2008
Building on the papers in this special issue as well as on our own experience and research, we try to shed light on the construct of "example spaces" and on how it can inform research and practice in the teaching and learning of mathematical concepts. Consistent with our way of working, we delay definition until after appropriate reader experience has been brought to the surface and several "examples" have been discussed. Of special interest is the notion of "accessibility" of examples: an individual's access to example spaces depends on conditions and is a valuable window on a deep, personal, situated structure. Through the notions of "dimensions of possible variation" and "range of permissible change," we consider ways in which examples exemplify and how attention needs to be directed so as to emphasise examplehood (generality) rather than particularity of mathematical objects. The paper ends with some remarks about example spaces in mathematics education itself.
Descriptors: Mathematics Instruction, Speeches, Mathematical Concepts, Concept Formation, Teaching Methods
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
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