ERIC Number: EJ1068258
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011-Sep
Pages: 24
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1744-1803
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Available Date: N/A
How Visual Imagery Contributed to College: A Case of How Visual Imagery Contributes to a College Algebra Student's Understanding of the Concept of Function in the United States
Lane, Rebekah M.
Adults Learning Mathematics, v6 n2 p8-31 Sep 2011
This investigation utilized the qualitative case study method. Seventy-one College Algebra students were given a mathematical processing instrument. This testing device measured a student's preference for visual thinking. Two students were purposefully selected using the instrument. The visual mathematical learner (VL) was discussed in this article. VL was presented with mathematical tasks to complete over the course of a semester. Each task was given to the student individually. In order to thoroughly understand VL's responses, taskbased interviews were conducted and videotaped. In addition, the student was interviewed based on her response to the mathematical tasks. The tasks captured different types of mathematical functions. These included linear, quadratic, absolute value, and exponential functions. As patterns emerged from the data, the researcher called them categories. Several emerging categories were examined in the article. Also, O'Callaghan's (1998) translating component was present during the completion of linear, quadratic, absolute value, and exponential functions.
Descriptors: Visual Aids, College Mathematics, Algebra, Mathematics, College Students, Qualitative Research, Case Studies, Cognitive Style, Interviews, Questionnaires
Adults Learning Mathematics. 26 Tennyson Road, Kilburn, London NW6 7SA UK. e-mail: editor-i@alm-online.net; Web site: http://www.alm-online.net
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
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