Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

Files

File List


kent1195713522.pdf (4.68 MB)

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

THE EFFECTS OF STUDYING THE HISTORY OF THE CONCEPT OF FUNCTION ON STUDENT UNDERSTANDING OF THE CONCEPT

Reed, Beverly M.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1195713522

Abstract Details

2007, PHD, Kent State University, College of Education, Health, and Human Services / Department of Teaching, Leadership and Curriculum Studies.
The purpose of this study was to examine the mathematical learning that occurred when students studied the history of a mathematical concept. In particular, the focus was on the concept of function. Students experienced an in-depth study of the history of functions during a 5-week unit in the junior-senior level History of Mathematics course. They completed a series of worksheets, readings, and problems. The research methodology was a teaching experiment and the framework for analysis of data was APOS (Action, Process, Object, Schema) Theory. All 17 students enrolled in the course completed an extensive initial questionnaire and 6 were selected to participate in an in-depth interview to reveal their understanding of the function concept. During the unit, each student wrote a series of reflections about his or her understanding. After the unit, students completed a second questionnaire and participated in another in-depth interview to discern the changes in their thinking about the concept. The findings support the notion that studying the history of a mathematical concept enables a deep reflection of ideas. Four of the six participants notably strengthened their function conceptions. Two moved an entire APOS level. Five of the six exhibited an increased ability to recognize a function in a given scenario. Growth was most profound in the area of graphical representations.
Ed Dubinsky (Advisor)
377 p.
Education, Mathematics
History of Mathematics; Functions; History of Functions; APOS Theory

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Reed, B. M. (2007). THE EFFECTS OF STUDYING THE HISTORY OF THE CONCEPT OF FUNCTION ON STUDENT UNDERSTANDING OF THE CONCEPT [Doctoral dissertation, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1195713522

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Reed, Beverly. THE EFFECTS OF STUDYING THE HISTORY OF THE CONCEPT OF FUNCTION ON STUDENT UNDERSTANDING OF THE CONCEPT. 2007. Kent State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1195713522.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Reed, Beverly. "THE EFFECTS OF STUDYING THE HISTORY OF THE CONCEPT OF FUNCTION ON STUDENT UNDERSTANDING OF THE CONCEPT." Doctoral dissertation, Kent State University, 2007. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1195713522

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

kent1195713522
1,346
© 2007, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Kent State University and OhioLINK.