A study of Grade 8 and 9 learner thinking about linear equations, from a commognitive perspective

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dc.contributor.advisorLe Roux, Kateen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorRoberts, Antheaen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2016-07-22T13:20:57Z
dc.date.available2016-07-22T13:20:57Z
dc.date.issued2016en_ZA
dc.description.abstractThe problem of poor learner performance in school mathematics in South Africa is persistent. Many studies have pointed to learner difficulties with algebra and their inadequate access to mathematical properties as a problem-solving resource. This small-scale qualitative study focuses on how, in an interview, fifteen Grade 8 and 9 learners at two South African schools think about linear equations. Sfard's theory of commognition, and particularly her concepts of ritualized and explorative discourse, are used as a framework to analyse how learners' words, gestures, narratives and routines intersect to build a picture of the mathematical objects they perceive. Many national and international research studies focusing on functions and linear equations from a cognitivist perspective, suggest that the reason for poor performance can be ascribed to a lack of relational understanding. Using a discursive rather than a cognitive lens, the study concludes that learners' discourse is ritualistic and that learners favour working with whole numbers, even when the context is negative integers or algebraic terms. Furthermore, they do not make a link between the solution of the equation and the function. As a result they have limited flexibility to adapt their routines.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationRoberts, A. (2016). <i>A study of Grade 8 and 9 learner thinking about linear equations, from a commognitive perspective</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,School of Education. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/20627en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationRoberts, Anthea. <i>"A study of Grade 8 and 9 learner thinking about linear equations, from a commognitive perspective."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,School of Education, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/20627en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationRoberts, A. 2016. A study of Grade 8 and 9 learner thinking about linear equations, from a commognitive perspective. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Roberts, Anthea AB - The problem of poor learner performance in school mathematics in South Africa is persistent. Many studies have pointed to learner difficulties with algebra and their inadequate access to mathematical properties as a problem-solving resource. This small-scale qualitative study focuses on how, in an interview, fifteen Grade 8 and 9 learners at two South African schools think about linear equations. Sfard's theory of commognition, and particularly her concepts of ritualized and explorative discourse, are used as a framework to analyse how learners' words, gestures, narratives and routines intersect to build a picture of the mathematical objects they perceive. Many national and international research studies focusing on functions and linear equations from a cognitivist perspective, suggest that the reason for poor performance can be ascribed to a lack of relational understanding. Using a discursive rather than a cognitive lens, the study concludes that learners' discourse is ritualistic and that learners favour working with whole numbers, even when the context is negative integers or algebraic terms. Furthermore, they do not make a link between the solution of the equation and the function. As a result they have limited flexibility to adapt their routines. DA - 2016 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2016 T1 - A study of Grade 8 and 9 learner thinking about linear equations, from a commognitive perspective TI - A study of Grade 8 and 9 learner thinking about linear equations, from a commognitive perspective UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/20627 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/20627
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationRoberts A. A study of Grade 8 and 9 learner thinking about linear equations, from a commognitive perspective. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,School of Education, 2016 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/20627en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentSchool of Educationen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Humanitiesen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherEducationen_ZA
dc.titleA study of Grade 8 and 9 learner thinking about linear equations, from a commognitive perspectiveen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMEden_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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