TASKS AND META-TASKS TO PROMOTE PRODUCTIVE MATHEMATICAL DISCOURSE IN COLLABORATIVE DIGITAL ENVIRONMENTS

Authors : Arthur B Powell, Muteb M Alqahtani

Pages : 254-263

View : 168 | Download : 770

Publication Date : 2015-09-01

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Rich tasks can be vehicles for productive mathematical discussions. How to support such discourse in collaborative digital environments is the focus of our theorization and empirical examination of task design that emerges from a larger research project. We present the theoretical foundations of our task design principles that developed through an iterative research design for a project that involves secondary teachers in online courses to learn discursively dynamic geometry by collaborating on construction and problem-solving tasks in a cyberlearning environment. In this study, we discuss a task and the collaborative work of a team of teachers to illustrate relationships between the task design, productive mathematical discourse, and the development of new mathematics knowledge for the teachers. Implications of this work suggest further investigations into interactions between characteristics of task design and learners mathematical activity.
Keywords : Collaboration, dynamic geometry, mathematical discourse, task design, technology