Constructions of Dynamic Geometry: A Study of the Interpretative Flexibility of Educational Software in Classroom Practice

Autor/inn/en	Ruthven, Kenneth; Hennessy, Sara; Deaney, Rosemary
Titel	Constructions of Dynamic Geometry: A Study of the Interpretative Flexibility of Educational Software in Classroom Practice
Quelle	In: Computers & Education, 51 (2008) 1, S.297-317 (21 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0360-1315
DOI	10.1016/j.compedu.2007.05.013
Schlagwörter	Computer Software; Educational Change; Norms; Geometry; Teaching Methods; Educational Technology; Mathematics Instruction; Foreign Countries; Secondary Schools; Mathematics Teachers; Technology Integration; Instructional Innovation; Case Studies; Curriculum Development; Mathematics Curriculum; Secondary School Mathematics; Computer Assisted Instruction; United Kingdom (England) + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Bildungsreform; Normwert; Geometrie; Teaching method; Lehrmethode; Unterrichtsmethode; Unterrichtsmedien; Mathematics lessons; Mathematikunterricht; Ausland; Sekundarschule; Mathematics; Teacher; Teachers; Mathematik; Lehrer; Lehrerin; Lehrende; Educational Innovation; Bildungsinnovation; Case study; Fallstudie; Case Study; Curriculum; Development; Curriculumentwicklung; Lehrplan; Entwicklung; Computer based training; Computerunterstützter Unterricht
Abstract	The idea of "interpretative flexibility" underpins new approaches to studying technological artefacts and curricular resources in use. This paper opens by reviewing, in this light, the evolving design of dynamic geometry, its pioneering use within classroom projects, and early sketches of its mainstream use in ordinary classrooms. After examining curricular context and its instrumental dimension, the paper then reports a study of teacher constructions of dynamic geometry in classroom practice, conducted in professionally well-regarded mathematics departments in English secondary schools. From departmental focus-group interviews, four teacher-nominated examples of successful practice were selected for study in depth through lesson observation and post-lesson interview. Iterative thematic analysis was employed, first to establish a narrative outline of each case, and then the ideas and issues salient across cases. The study illustrates the interpretative flexibility surrounding the emergent use of dynamic geometry. It found important differences in practical elaboration of the widespread idea of employing dynamic geometry to support guided discovery. The process of evaluating the costs and benefits of student software use was influenced by the extent to which such use was seen as providing experience of a mathematical reference model, and more fundamentally as promoting mathematically disciplined interaction. Approaches to handling apparent mathematical anomalies of software operation depended on whether these were seen as providing opportunities to develop students' mathematical understanding, in line with a more fundamental pedagogical orientation towards supporting learning through analysis of mathematical discrepancies. Such variation was associated with differences in positioning dynamic geometry in relation to curricular norms and in privileging a mathematical register for framing figural properties. Across all cases, however, incorporating dynamic manipulation into mathematical discourse moved implicitly beyond established norms when dragging was used to focus attention on continuous dynamic variation, rather than being treated as an efficient means of generating multiple static figures. (Contains 2 figures and 4 tables.) (Author).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10