We describe an instructional module aimed to enhance prospective secondary teachers’ (PSTs’) subject matter knowledge of indirect reasoning. We focus on one activity in which PSTs had to compare and contrast proof by contradiction and proof by contrapositive. These types of proofs have been shown to be challenging to students at all levels and teachers alike, yet there has been little research on how to support learners in developing this knowledge. Data analysis of 11 PSTs, points to learning opportunities afforded by the module and the PSTs’ challenges with indirect reasoning.
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Instructional interventions and teacher moves to support student learning of logical principles in mathematical contexts
This study explores how instructional interventions and teacher moves might support students’ learning of logic in mathematical contexts. We conducted an exploratory teaching experiment with a pair of undergraduate students to leverage set-based reasoning for proofs of conditional statements. The students initially displayed a lack of knowledge of contrapositive equivalence and converse independence in validating if a given proof-text proves a given theorem. However, they came to conceive of these logical principles as the teaching experiment progressed. We will discuss how our instructional interventions played a critical role in facilitating students’ joint reflection and modification of their reasoning about contrapositive equivalence and converse independence in reading proofs.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1954768
- PAR ID:
- 10464331
- Editor(s):
- Cook, S.; Katz, B.; Moore-Russo, D.
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Proceedings of the Annual Conference on Research in Undergraduate Mathematics Education
- ISSN:
- 2474-9346
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 694-701
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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