How Students Verify Conjectures: Teachers’ Expectations

Author: Bergqvist, Tomas

Source: Journal of Mathematics Teacher Education, Volume 8, Number 2, April 2005 , pp. 171-191(21)

Publisher: Springer

Buy & download fulltext article:

Price: $47.00 plus tax (Refund Policy)

Abstract:

Eight teachers were interviewed concerning how students verify conjectures. The study is a sequel to a previous study, “How Students Verify Conjectures” [Bergqvist, T. (2000). How students verify conjectures. Research reports in Mathematics Education 3]. Teachers’ expectations of students’ reasoning and performance are examined, and also how they wish students would work. The results indicate that the teachers tend to underestimate the students’ reasoning levels and that they believe that only a small group of students in each class can use higher level reasoning in mathematics.

Keywords: interview study; proof; reasoning; upper secondary school; teachers’ expectations; verification of conjectures

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10857-005-4797-6

Affiliations: 1: Umeå University, Sweden, Email: tomas.bergqvist@math.umu.se

Publication date: 2005-04-01