Download full textERIC Number: ED589460
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2017
Pages: 7
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
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First-Year University Students' Difficulties with Mathematical Symbols: The Lecturer/Tutor Perspective
Pierce, Robyn; Begg, Meredith
Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia, Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia (MERGA) (40th, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 2017)
School and university mathematics: Do they speak the same language? Our university mathematics students come from amongst the successful school mathematics students, but what difficulties with symbols do their lecturers and tutors observe? In this paper, we report on data from interviews with 21 first-year lecturers and tutors from four universities. Key emerging themes focused on mathematical communication: the importance of comprehending mathematical symbols and of composing a mathematical narrative consisting of both explanatory words as well as symbols.
Descriptors: Mathematics Instruction, College Mathematics, Mathematical Concepts, College Faculty, Comprehension, Symbols (Mathematics), College Freshmen, Foreign Countries, Communication Strategies, Difficulty Level, Cognitive Processes
Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia. GPO Box 2747, Adelaide SA 5001, Australia. Tel: +61-8-8363-0288; Fax: +61-8-8362-9288; e-mail: sales@merga.net.au; Web site: http://www.merga.net.au/
Publication Type: Speeches/Meeting Papers; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia
Identifiers - Location: Australia
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