We present an analysis of several characteristics of examples in 10 college algebra textbooks used in community colleges or 4-year institutions. We analyzed the examples along four dimensions: cognitive demand, the responses expected, the use of representations, and the strategies available for verifying the correctness of the solutions. We found…

This paper reports on a study which was performed to replicate and extend the findings of Hendrix with regard to verbalization and discovery learning. College algebra classes were randomly assigned to three verbalization conditions: (1) no student verbalization of generalizations required, (2) students make written verbalization of generalization,…

This study was performed as an effort to replicate and extend the findings of Hendrix with regard to verbalization and discovery learning. College algebra classes were randomly assigned to three verbalization conditions: (1) no student verbalization of generalizations required, (2) students make written verbalization of generalization, and (3)…

Describes a writing unit which coincided with an algebra unit on solving problems with two variables, in which students wrote down their reasons for choosing a particular multiple choice response, expressed an equation in writing, and wrote a six paragraph description of the solution to a problem. (RS)