Primary Students’ decoding mathematics tasks: the role of spatial reason

Presenter Information

Tom Lowrie, Charles Sturt University

Start Date

17-8-2010 10:45 AM

End Date

17-8-2010 12:00 PM

Comments

Representation is an important aspect of mathematics. In recent years graphics representations have become increasingly widespread as society comes to terms with the information age. Although the mathematics curricula have not varied to any recognisable degree in the past decade or so, the assessment procedures associated with mathematics education certainly have. This presentation highlights the changing nature of students’ spatial reasoning as they engage with different types of mathematics representations. A case is presented which describes the shift from students’ use of encoding techniques to represent mathematical ideas to an increasing reliance on students decoding graphical representations constructed by others. The presentation analyses a number of student work samples as they were videotaped completing assessment items from the National Assessment Plan for Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN). Implications from the study include the recognition that students need to acquire different spatialreasoning skills which allow them to consider (and navigate) all the elements of a mathematics task, including specific features of a graphic and the surrounding text.

Recommended Citation

Lowrie, T. (2010, August 17). Primary Students’ decoding mathematics tasks: the role of spatial reason [Paper presentation]. 2010 - Teaching Mathematics? Make it Count. https://research.acer.edu.au/research_conference/RC2010/17august/4