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ERIC Number: EJ1350694
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022
Pages: 26
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0020-739X
EISSN: EISSN-1464-5211
Eliciting the Coordination of Preservice Secondary Mathematics Teachers' Definitions and Concept Images of Function
McCulloch, Allison W.; Lovett, Jennifer N.; Dick, Lara; Sherman, Milan; Edgington, Cyndi; Meagher, Michael
International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, v53 n6 p1387-1412 2022
Given the vast experiences pre-service mathematics teachers (PSMTs) have with functions, one may assume that they have existing personal definitions and concept images. The purpose of this paper is to build an understanding of the variety of images that one might associate with a definition of function that includes 'for each input there is one output' and how these images are coordinated with the definition to determine whether an object is a function or not. Two cases are presented to describe PSMTs who were working from the same personal definition of function, yet used that definition differently within a task designed around the function concept. The task itself was novel in that it is presented in a non-algebraic context, namely a vending machine. As such, PSMTs were required to coordinate their personal definition and images within the novel context. Attending to PSMTs' concept images revealed that though they were working from the same personal definition, images they drew upon to determine whether or not an object is a function were varied.
Taylor & Francis. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF), Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: DUE1820998; DUE1821054