Research in Mathematical Education (한국수학교육학회지시리즈D:수학교육연구)

Korean Society of Mathematical Education (한국수학교육학회)
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The Mediation of Embodied Symbol on Combinatorial Thinking

  • Cho, Han-Hyuk (Department of Mathematics Education, Seoul National University) ;
  • Lee, Ji-Yoon (Department of Mathematics Education, Seoul National University) ;
  • Lee, Hyo-Myung (Department of Mathematics Education, Seoul National University)
  • Received : 2012.02.27
  • Accepted : 2012.03.30
  • Published : 2012.03.30
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Abstract

This research investigated if the embodied symbol using a turtle metaphor in a microworld environment works as a cognitive tool to mediate the learning of combinatorics. It was found that students were able to not only count the number of cases systematically by using the embodied symbols in a situated problem regarding Permutation and Combination, but also find the rules and infer a concept of Combination through the activities manipulating the symbols. Therefore, we concluded that the embodied symbol, as a bridge that connects learners' concrete experiences with abstract mathematical concepts, can be applied to introduction of various mathematical concepts as well as a combinatorics concept.

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References

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