ERIC Number: EJ1107646
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2014
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-2301-251X
EISSN: N/A
Fallacious Argumentation in Student Reasoning: Are There Benefits?
Mueller, Mary; Yankelewitz, Dina
European Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, v2 n1 p27-38 2014
This article reports on an analysis of episodes of invalid or controversial arguments that occurred while two different groups of students worked on similar fraction tasks and examine the role that these types of arguments played in the development of students' reasoning. One group consisted of suburban, middle-class, fourth graders who worked on these tasks during the regular school day. The other group was comprised of sixth-graders from an urban community working on similar tasks as part of an informal learning after-school project. The findings of this study indicate that allowing students to share and discuss incorrect arguments promoted rich mathematical discourse and argumentation. The invalid arguments triggered the use of varied reasoning by other students and cleared up previous [mis]understandings.
Descriptors: Persuasive Discourse, Fractions, Grade 4, Elementary School Students, Grade 6, Middle Class, Urban Schools, Suburban Schools, After School Programs, Informal Education, Mathematical Logic, Misconceptions, Mathematical Concepts, Cooperative Learning, Problem Solving, Mathematics Instruction
European Journal of Science and Mathematics Education. Eastern Mediterranean University, Farnagusta, TRNC, Mersin 10, Turkey. e-mail: editor@scimath.net; Web site: http://www.scimath.net
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Grade 4; Intermediate Grades; Elementary Education; Grade 6; Middle Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: New Jersey
Grant or Contract Numbers: E0309062; MDR9053597; REC9814846