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Rethinking the role of algorithms in school mathematics: a conceptual model with focus on cognitive development

Rethinking the role of algorithms in school mathematics: a conceptual model with focus on cognitive development
Rethinking the role of algorithms in school mathematics: a conceptual model with focus on cognitive development
Starting from the context of mathematics learning in the East and West, this paper discusses the position and role of algorithms within school mathematics and argues that learning of algorithms has suffered from an alleged dichotomy between procedures and understanding, in that algorithms have been associated with low-level cognition. The paper first introduces a broad perspective about algorithms in school mathematics, and then, partially drawing on Bloom’s taxonomy and Säljö’s categorization of learning, proposes a model for the learning of algorithms with focus on students’ cognitive development. The model consists of three cognitive levels: (1) Knowledge and Skills, (2) Understanding and Comprehension, and (3) Evaluation and Construction. The model suggests that the learning of algorithms does not simply imply a low level of cognition, and provides a new perspective and framework to analyse the learning of algorithms. Following the model, we present examples to demonstrate the three levels and discuss related teaching strategies. We propose that the model can be used as an analysis tool to reconceptualize the role of algorithms in school mathematics and pose some questions for further research and scholarly discourse in this direction.
1863-9690
481-492
Fan, Lianghuo
28afe582-cd04-4ddc-9acb-a12494af79e0
Bokhove, Christian
7fc17e5b-9a94-48f3-a387-2ccf60d2d5d8
Fan, Lianghuo
28afe582-cd04-4ddc-9acb-a12494af79e0
Bokhove, Christian
7fc17e5b-9a94-48f3-a387-2ccf60d2d5d8

Fan, Lianghuo and Bokhove, Christian (2014) Rethinking the role of algorithms in school mathematics: a conceptual model with focus on cognitive development. ZDM: Mathematics Education, 46 (3), 481-492. (doi:10.1007/s11858-014-0590-2).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Starting from the context of mathematics learning in the East and West, this paper discusses the position and role of algorithms within school mathematics and argues that learning of algorithms has suffered from an alleged dichotomy between procedures and understanding, in that algorithms have been associated with low-level cognition. The paper first introduces a broad perspective about algorithms in school mathematics, and then, partially drawing on Bloom’s taxonomy and Säljö’s categorization of learning, proposes a model for the learning of algorithms with focus on students’ cognitive development. The model consists of three cognitive levels: (1) Knowledge and Skills, (2) Understanding and Comprehension, and (3) Evaluation and Construction. The model suggests that the learning of algorithms does not simply imply a low level of cognition, and provides a new perspective and framework to analyse the learning of algorithms. Following the model, we present examples to demonstrate the three levels and discuss related teaching strategies. We propose that the model can be used as an analysis tool to reconceptualize the role of algorithms in school mathematics and pose some questions for further research and scholarly discourse in this direction.

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More information

Accepted/In Press date: 2 February 2014
e-pub ahead of print date: 27 May 2014
Published date: July 2014
Organisations: Mathematics, Science & Health Education

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 364654
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/364654
ISSN: 1863-9690
PURE UUID: 545aae47-2a3d-4f11-bb2b-03c5bf988f09
ORCID for Christian Bokhove: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-4860-8723

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 08 May 2014 09:59
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:44

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