ERIC Number: EJ983256
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012-Nov
Pages: 21
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0020-4277
EISSN: N/A
What Counts as a Flexible Representational Choice? An Evaluation of Students' Representational Choices to Solve Linear Function Problems
Nistal, Ana Acevedo; Van Dooren, Wim; Verschaffel, Lieven
Instructional Science: An International Journal of the Learning Sciences, v40 n6 p999-1019 Nov 2012
This study evaluated students' representational choices while they solved linear function problems. Eighty-six secondary-school students solved problems under one choice condition, where they chose a table, a formula, or both to solve each problem, and two no-choice conditions, where one of these representations was forced upon them. Two conceptualisations of representational flexibility were used: a groupwise conceptualisation, where group-based measures of students' fluency with the different representations were used to determine which representational choices could be considered flexible, and an individualised conceptualisation, where each individual student's fluency with each of the representations to solve each problem type was taken into account when determining which choices could be considered flexible for that particular student. A strong correlation between groupwise flexibility and choice condition accuracy, and an even stronger correlation between individualised flexibility and choice condition accuracy were found. The implications for research and instruction are discussed.
Descriptors: Secondary School Students, Problem Solving, Mathematical Applications, Selection, Mathematical Formulas, Tables (Data), Correlation
Springer. 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-348-4505; e-mail: service-ny@springer.com; Web site: http://www.springerlink.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A

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