The Types of Examples Teachers Use in Teaching Function Concept

Authors : Sevilay ALKAN, Bülent GÜVEN, Şerife YILMAZ

Pages : 367-384

View : 23 | Download : 15

Publication Date : 2017-06-28

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Although the concept of function is one of the important subject of mathematics courses, many studies show that learners have difficulty in this subject. The basis of these difficulties is that most students encode the prototypes of examples, representations and algebraic rules used for explaining function concept, which match with their own thinking, instead of the definition of function at learning the functions. Therefore, the examples which teachers present in the functions have an important roles in students’ learning on this subject. In this study, it is aimed to determine the types of examples which two teachers use in the functions. In the scope of the study, it is made use of unstructured observations and informal interviews. The theoretical framework which Bills et al (2006) use in classification of examples, is utilized in analyzing the data. In the findings, it is found that the teachers use generic examples and non-examples in their lessons, despite that they don’t use counter examples
Keywords : Example, Types of Examples, Functions