NotesFAQContact Us
Collection
Advanced
Search Tips
Back to results
Peer reviewed Peer reviewed
Direct linkDirect link
ERIC Number: EJ982813
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 25
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1098-6065
EISSN: N/A
Detecting Students' Experiences of Discontinuities between Middle School and High School Mathematics Programs: Learning during Boundary Crossing
Jansen, Amanda; Herbel-Eisenmann, Beth; Smith, John P., III
Mathematical Thinking and Learning: An International Journal, v14 n4 p285-309 2012
Transitions from middle school to high school mathematics programs can be problematic for students due to potential differences between instructional approaches and curriculum materials. Given the minimal research on how students experience such differences, we report on the experiences of two students as they moved out of an integrated, problem-based mathematics program in their middle school into a high school mathematics program that emphasized procedural fluency. We conducted an average of two interviews per year for two and a half years with participants and engaged in participant-observation at their high school. In this study, we illustrate an analytic process for detecting discontinuities between settings from participants' perspectives. We determined that students experienced a discontinuity if they reported meaningful differences between settings (frequent mention, in detail, with emphasis terms) and concurrently reported a change in attitude. Additionally, these students' experiences illustrate two opportunities to learn during boundary-crossing experiences: identification and reflection. (Contains 5 footnotes.)
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools; Middle Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A