Designing Prediction Tasks in a Mathematics Software Environment

Abstract

There is a recognised need in mathematics teaching for new kinds of tasks which exploit the affordances provided by new technology. This paper focuses on the design of prediction tasks to foster student reasoning about exponential functions in a mathematics software environment. It draws on the first iteration of a design based research study conducted by the authors in collaboration with four upper secondary school teachers. A task sequence was trailed with four 10th grade classes, involving a total of 85 students. The research process pinpointed key didactical variables that proved crucial in designing these tasks. As well as being useful in the task design process, the didactical variables were found to be valuable in the processes of analysis and revision. While the didactical variables identified a priori were informed by the research literature concerning reasoning and functions, those identified a posteriori deal mainly with scaffolding issues that emerged.