Solving a contextual problem with the spreadsheet as an environment for algebraic thinking development

Abstract

In this article we report and discuss a contextual problem solving task that was proposed to a class of 8th grade (13^14 -year-old) students. These students had been developing a reasonable experience in the use of the spreadsheet to model relations within contextual problems and chose to use this tool to solve the mentioned problem, engaging in the process of translating relations between variables and combining them in chained models, while working with fractions, multiples and expressions. We intend to highlight the role of the spreadsheet in students' processes of variable identification and translation of the problem conditions, their numerical approaches to algebraic models and their experimental forms of finding solutions to equations.

Mathematical Problem Solving Beyond School: Digital Tools and Students’ Mathematical Representations

“…Moreover, we noticed their awareness of the different representations that could materialize their reasoning and even some decision ability when selecting among the options they had at hand. In another study, Nobre et al (2012) reported on how students dealt with one of the competition problems with the use of a spreadsheet. It was clear that students interpreted the problem in light of their mathematical knowledge and of their knowledge of the digital tool.…”

New Vocational School Students’ Basic ICT Skills Self-Assessment

“…There are studies showing that also higher education students have a less positive opinion about their skills to work with spreadsheets than other ICT skills (De Wit et al, 2014). Spreadsheets have, however, found to promote several skills in mathematics education (Baker & Sugden, 2003), such as algebraic thinking (Nobre et al, 2012). Knowing the pros of using spreadsheets in mathematics education, it is suggested that students in vocational schools are supported with appropriate learning materials more in the future.…”

An instrumental genesis perspective on the students' using spreadsheet for the interest concept and calculations

“…al. (2015), emphasizes that the relationship between the tool and mathematical concepts should be set up for effective learning (Nobre et al, 2012;Van De Walle et al, 2015). Spreadsheets can be defined as a tool used in Necatibey Eğitim Fakültesi Elektronik Fen ve Matematik Eğitimi Dergisi Necatibey Faculty of Education, Electronic Journal of Science and Mathematics Education teaching and learning environments as a common technology that is easy to access from different devices (Bernard & Senjayawati, 2019).…”