The aims of this study is figure out the characteristics of justification patterns and mathematical representations which are derived from 14 mathematically gifted middle school students (MGMSS) in the process of solving the spatial tasks on Archimede...
The aims of this study is figure out the characteristics of justification patterns and mathematical representations which are derived from 14 mathematically gifted middle school students (MGMSS) in the process of solving the spatial tasks on Archimedean solids.
In order to achieve the goals of the study, emphasis was put on the following two questions.
1. What are the justification patterns of MGMSS in the process of solving the spatial tasks on Archimedean solids?
2. What are the mathematical representations of MGMSS in the process of solving the spatial tasks on Archimedean solids?
In order to solve these questions, the subjects of the research were 14 MGMSSs who attended spacial geometry lessons in an institute for the gifted students attached to a university located in a local city, which is supported by the government. The each lesson was held for three hours. In-depth interviews were held when supplementary explanation was necessary for certain parts of the thinking process involved in the problem solving which the researchers couldn’t understand, and when the justification process was requested. In order to guarantee the reliability of data collection and analysis, the problem solving process and in-depth interviews were videotaped. Concerning the data analysis, the joint researchers worked together in analyzing the thinking process and continued discussion until an agreement was reached on its characteristics, to avoid the problem of biased opinions from different individuals.
For the Question 1, we established a 2-dimensional framework for justification patterns based on the characteristics of the tasks assigned to students and a number of literatures, so that it may be suitable for concerned tasks in spacial geometry. The framework is as follows:
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< Table 1> Framework for justification patterns
Differentiation between partial justification and whole justification is made according to whether all component factors that need to be considered are considered or not. In other words, in the case certain factors are grasped and partial structure of the problem is understood, but the entire structure is not figured out, it is categorized as partial justification, and in the case the essence of the problem is understood and solution is found by bringing together the entire process, it is categorized as whole justification. Distinction between empirical justification and deductive justification is made based on whether one goes further than actual experiences to consider more general and formal methods.
For the Question 2, We investigated the representational systems with an emphasis on verbal representation, visual representation, symbolic representation. We discussed merits and demerits within a representational system but not among each different representational systems. In addition, we analyzed whether MGMSS could create a little more elaborated and transparent representation within a representational system.
A summary of results obtained from this research is as follows:
This study shows that mathematically gifted students apply different types of justification such as empirical, or deductive justification and partial or whole justification. It would be necessary to pay attention to the value of informal justification, by comparing the response of student who understood the entire transformation process and provided a reasonable explanation considering all component factors although presenting informal justification and that of student who showed formalization process based on partial analysis.
Visual representation plays an valuable role in finding out the idea of solving the problem and grasping the entire structure of the problem.
We found that gifted students tried to create elaborated symbols by consolidating mathematical concepts into symbolic representations and modifying them while gradually developing symbolic representations.
In conclusion, This study on justification patterns and mathematical representation of mathematically gifted students dealing with spacial geometry tasks provided an meaningful opportunity for understanding their the characteristics of spacial geometrical thinking and expending their thinking. Assigning spacial geometry tasks to students who are familiar with solving plane geometry tasks is considered to be appropriate for enhancing the students’thinking. Follow-up studies on other spacial geometry tasks in which various thinking elements such as analogy, specialization, generalization, etc. (Polya, 1981) are required. In addition, there needs to be continued studies on the principles of education and learning in spacial geometry that offers rich justifying experiences.