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Advances in Mathematics Education Research on Proof and Proving pp 99–113Cite as

Addressing Key and Persistent Problems of Students’ Learning: The Case of Proof

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Part of the book series: ICME-13 Monographs ((ICME13Mo))

Abstract

Research has provided a strong empirical and theoretical basis about major difficulties students face with proof, but it has paid less attention to the design of interventions to address these difficulties. In this chapter we highlight the need for more research on classroom-based interventions in the area of proof, and we discuss what might be important characteristics of interventions that specifically aim to address key and persistent problems of students’ learning in this area. In particular, we make a case for interventions with the following three characteristics: (1) they include an explanatory theoretical framework about how they “work” or “can work” in relation to their impact on students’ learning; (2) they have a narrow and well-defined scope, which makes it possible for them to have a relatively short duration; and (3) they include an appropriate mechanism to trigger and support conceptual change. Although our discussion of these characteristics focuses on the area of proof, the characteristics can be applicable also to interventions that aim to address key and persistent problems of students’ learning in other areas.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

    Andreas J. Stylianides

  2. University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

    Gabriel J. Stylianides

Authors
  1. Andreas J. Stylianides
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  2. Gabriel J. Stylianides
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Correspondence to Andreas J. Stylianides .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom

    Andreas J. Stylianides

  2. Department of Mathematics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA

    Guershon Harel

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Stylianides, A.J., Stylianides, G.J. (2018). Addressing Key and Persistent Problems of Students’ Learning: The Case of Proof. In: Stylianides, A., Harel, G. (eds) Advances in Mathematics Education Research on Proof and Proving. ICME-13 Monographs. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-70996-3_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-70996-3_7

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-70996-3

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