Learning about the Equal Sign: Does Comparing with Inequality Symbols Help?

Autor/inn/en	Hattikudur, Shanta; Alibali, Martha W.
Titel	Learning about the Equal Sign: Does Comparing with Inequality Symbols Help?
Quelle	In: Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 107 (2010) 1, S.15-30 (16 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0022-0965
DOI	10.1016/j.jecp.2010.03.004
Schlagwörter	Symbols (Mathematics); Problem Solving; Mathematics Instruction; Comparative Analysis; Grade 3; Grade 4; Elementary School Students; Concept Formation; Pretests Posttests; Instructional Effectiveness; Cognitive Processes + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Problemlösen; Mathematics lessons; Mathematikunterricht; School year 03; 3. Schuljahr; Schuljahr 03; School year 04; 4. Schuljahr; Schuljahr 04; Concept learning; Begriffsbildung; Unterrichtserfolg; Cognitive process; Kognitiver Prozess
Abstract	This study investigated whether instruction that involves comparing the equal sign with other relational symbols is more effective at imparting a relational interpretation of the equal sign than instruction about the equal sign alone. Third- and fourth-grade students in a comparing symbols group learned about the greater than, less than, and equal signs and had the opportunity to compare the inequality symbols with the equal sign. Students in an equal sign group learned about the equal sign only. A third group of students served as a control group. Three aspects of students' knowledge were assessed before and after the lesson: (a) conceptual understanding of the equal sign, (b) equation encoding, and (c) problem solving. Students in the comparing symbols group showed greater gains in conceptual understanding from pretest to posttest than students in the other two groups, and students in the comparing symbols group also scored higher on a posttest that assessed knowledge about inequality symbols and inequality problem solving. Thus, they learned about three symbols in the same amount of time as other students learned about the equal sign alone or not at all. Therefore, an instructional approach involving comparison can be an effective tool for learning about concepts in mathematics. (Contains 3 figures and 4 tables.) (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10