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ERIC Number: ED630172
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2021
Pages: 10
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
The Geometry of Sunlight: Continuous Multiplication with Naturally Occurring Parallel Lines
Dimmel, Justin K.; Pandiscio, Eric A.; Bock, Camden; Reedman, Emma
North American Chapter of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education, Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the North American Chapter of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education (43rd, Philadelphia, PA, Oct 14-17, 2021)
We report the design of an analog technology, what we refer to as a SunRule, that uses sunlight to model multiplication. Physical models that explore multiplication are fixtures in elementary mathematics classrooms. Our interest in physical models of multiplication was driven by an overarching design problem: How could a physical tool realize a continuous model of multiplication? That is, how could we represent continuous, variable quantities with physical things? We identify specific challenges the SunRule was designed to solve. We explain the mathematical underpinnings of the device and report a teaching experiment during which preservice teachers explored the device in small, socially-distanced groups. We consider how explorations with the SunRule create opportunities for mathematically rich instructional activities that are also essentially connected to being outside. [For the complete proceedings, see ED630060.]
North American Chapter of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education. e-mail: pmena.steeringcommittee@gmail.com; Web site: http://www.pmena.org/
Publication Type: Speeches/Meeting Papers; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education; Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: 1822800