Generalisation in Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Exploratory Study of Strategies

Autor/inn/en	Goñi-Cervera, J.; Cañadas, M. C.; Polo-Blanco, I.
Titel	Generalisation in Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Exploratory Study of Strategies
Quelle	In: ZDM: Mathematics Education, 54 (2022) 6, S.1333-1347 (15 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Zusatzinformation	ORCID (Cañadas, M. C.)
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1863-9690
DOI	10.1007/s11858-022-01415-w
Schlagwörter	Generalization; Autism Spectrum Disorders; Elementary School Students; Algebra; Abstract Reasoning; Thinking Skills; Mathematics Instruction; Special Education; Learning Processes; Learning Strategies; Problem Solving; Teaching Methods; Foreign Countries; Spain + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Autism; Autismus; Abstraktes Denken; Denken; Denkfähigkeit; Mathematics lessons; Mathematikunterricht; Special needs education; Sonderpädagogik; Sonderschulwesen; Learning process; Lernprozess; Learning methode; Learning techniques; Lernmethode; Lernstrategie; Problemlösen; Teaching method; Lehrmethode; Unterrichtsmethode; Ausland; Spanien
Abstract	Generalisation is a skill that enables learners to acquire knowledge in general, and mathematical knowledge in particular. It is a core aspect of algebraic thinking and, in particular, of functional thinking, as a type of algebraic thinking. Introducing primary school children to functional thinking fosters their ability to generalise, explain and reason with mathematical relationships. It also helps them overcome difficulties in understanding functions when they are exposed to the idea more formally in secondary education. Although more and more special education students are enrolled in mainstream schools, little is known about algebraic thinking in that community, especially in the case of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Students with ASD often exhibit deficits that interfere directly with mathematical learning. The study discussed here, which was conducted in the context of algebraic reasoning, was aimed primarily at identifying and describing the strategies and representations observed in 26 ASD primary education students when performing a task that involved a linear function, and describing the generalisations they performed. The 26 participants were enrolled in 19 mainstream Spanish schools. The tools used, a questionnaire and semi-structured interview, were designed to explore their ability to generalise in a problem involving the function f(x) = 2x + 2. The strategies identified included: (a) bald answering; (b) modelling with manipulatives; (c) drawing; (d) counting and (e) operating. The strategy most frequently observed was operating, represented verbally or symbolically, followed by drawing. Only three students generalised but did not reach the highest level of functional thinking, namely, 'functions as objects'. The results are compared with findings for mainstream students of similar ages. Conjectures around the possible relationships between some findings and the type of thinking characteristic of autism spectrum disorder are put forward. The results carry implications for research with and teaching of students with ASD. (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01