students’ use of standard algorithms for solving linear equations jon r. star michigan state...
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Students’ use of standard algorithms for solving linear equationsJon R. StarMichigan State University
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Acknowledgements
Thanks to graduate students at MSU: Kosze Lee, Beste Gucler, Howard Glasser, Mustafa Demir, and Kuo-Liang Chang
Thanks to Bethany Rittle-Johnson, Vanderbilt, for her collaboration in the design and implementation of this study.
Funds supporting this work provided by small grants from the Michigan State University College of Education.
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Starting definitions A procedure is a step-by-step plan of action
for accomplishing a task A strategy is a plan of action for
accomplishing a task I use these terms synonymously, as is the
norm among many psychologists who study strategy change (e.g., Siegler)
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More definitions A procedure/strategy can be either: A heuristic, which is a helpful procedure for
arriving at a solution; a rule of thumb An algorithm, which is a procedure that is
deterministic; when one follows the steps in a predetermined order, one is guaranteed to reach the solution
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Standard algorithms For some problems, a “standard algorithm”
(SA) exists Called “standard” because it is commonly
and often explicitly taught as THE way to solve problems within a problem class
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Strategies for 4(x + 5) = 80 A standard algorithm (SA)
4(x + 5) = 804x + 20 = 804x = 60x = 15
Alternative approach #14(x + 5) = 80x + 5 = 20x = 15
Alternative approach #24(x + 5) = 804x + 20 = 804x - 60 = 0x - 15 = 0x = 15
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SA, more generally
1. Distribute first, to “clear” parentheses2. Combine like variable and constant terms
on each side3. ‘Move’ variable terms to one side and
constant terms to the other side4. Divide both sides by the coefficient of the
variable term
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Pros and cons of SA Reasonably efficient Widely applicable Can be executed often
without attending to specifics of the problem
Are not always the best or most efficient strategy
Over reliance on SA may lead to difficulties on unfamiliar problems
Ability to use not always connected with why algorithm is effective; may lead to rote memorization; strategy may be easily forgotten
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Learning standard algorithms Learning and use of SAs has become a
flashpoint issue in US mathematics education
Should they be learned at all? explicitly taught? discovered?
Not a lot of research on students’ learning of SA to help resolve these issues
Particularly on algorithms other than arithmetic
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Not researched in high school? Key features of elementary school reform
instruction are less typical at high school level:
Sharing and comparing of multiple strategies for solving problems
Allowing students to discover their own algorithms, rather than providing direct instruction on a SA
Allowing students to use non-standard algorithms
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Not researched in high school? Discovery of SAs is presumed to be more
difficult, if not highly improbable, in high school “Are you saying you want my students to
‘discover’ the quadratic formula?!” As a result, many teachers feel that it is
necessary to provide direct instruction on strategies such as the SA “If I don’t teach students this algorithm, there is
no way that they would come up with it on their own.”
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Unquestioned assumptions Is direct instruction the only way that
students will learn the SA? Can students discover the SA largely on
their own? When some students discover a strategy
and others are shown it by direct instruction, is there a difference in how students use the strategy?
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Larger goal: Flexibility We want students to know the SA but also
to be flexible in their knowledge of problem solving strategies, meaning that they:
Know a variety of other strategies (SA and others) that can be used to solve similar problems
Are able to adaptively select the most appropriate strategy (SA and others) for solving a particular problem
(Star, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005)
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Research questions Do students discover the SA for solving
linear equations when allowed to work largely on their own?
Do either of two instructional interventions affect the discovery and use of the SA among algebra equation solvers? Direct instruction Alternative ordering task (Star, 2001)
Goal was to see what strategies students develop and how they make sense of, use, and modify these strategies
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Method 130 6th graders (82 girls, 48 boys) 5 one-hour classes in one week (Mon - Fri) Class size 8 to 15 students; students
worked individually Pre-test (Mon), post-test (Fri); three
problem-solving sessions (Tues, Wed, Thurs)
Domain was linear equation solving 3(x + 1) = 12 2(x + 3) + 4(x + 3) = 24 9(x + 2) + 3(x + 2) + 3 = 18x + 9
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Prior knowledge & instruction Students had no prior knowledge of
symbolic approaches for solving equations Minimal instruction and feedback provided 30 minute benchmark lesson Combine like terms, add to both sides,
multiply to both sides, distribute How to use each step individually No strategic guidance provided during study No worked examples
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Alternative ordering task During problem solving, some students
were asked to re-solve a previously completed problem, but using a different ordering of steps (Star, 2001)
Random assignment to condition by class Control group solved new but isomorphic
problem 2(x + 1) = 10 3(x + 2) = 15
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Direct instruction At start of 2nd problem solving class (Wed),
3 worked examples presented to direct instruction classes
“This is the way I solve this equation.” Each problem solved with using a different
method; one was the SA Total time was 8 minutes of supplemental
instruction Random assignment to condition by class
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Analysis Students’ written work was analyzed for use
of SA Booklet problems (Tues, Wed, Thurs
sessions) - total of 31 equations attempted Post-test problems - total of 9 equations
attempted Three “markers” of SA:
Distribute first Combine like terms before moving Divide as a final step
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Results. About 2/3 of students did not discover SA Of those who did, a small number started
using SA very early
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Results..
25
66
9
0 20 40 60 80 100
Percent of students
Discovery of SA
Early UsersNo SASA
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Results... Those who discovered and used SA
performed better on the post-test than those who did not use SA (p < .01)
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Results...
94
76
59
0
10
20
30
4050
60
70
80
90
100Percent correct
Performance on post-test problems
Early Users SA No SA
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Results.... Direct instruction on SA did not increase
chances that a student would use SA on post-test
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Results.....
16 16
49 37
4 8
0 20 40 60 80Number of students
SA Users
Non-SA Users
Early Users
Learning SA from Discovery vs. Direct Instruction
Direct Instruction Discovery Only
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Results...... Stated somewhat differently (and not
including 12 Early Users): 25% (16 of 65) of students in the Direct
Instruction condition used SA on the post-test
30% (16 of 53) of students in the Discovery condition used SA on the post-test
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Results....... The alternative ordering task made it less
likely that a student would use the SA on the post-test (p < .05)
Alternative ordering task made it more likely that students would use other, more efficient or innovative strategies than the SA on the post-test
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Results........
12 50
20 36
0 20 40 60 80
Number of students
Alternativeordering
Control
Impact of Alternative Ordering Task on SA Discovery
SANo SA
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Summary of results. Do students discover the SA for solving
linear equations when allowed to work largely on their own?
Most did not Only about one-fourth of students learned
the SA on their own Is one-fourth high or low?
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Summary of results.. Do either of two instructional interventions
affect the discovery and use of the SA among algebra equation solvers?
There was no difference in the rate of SA use between the direct instruction and discovery conditions
The alternative ordering condition made it less likely that students used the SA on the post-test
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Implications for SA learning Neither a short period of direct instruction
(viewing of worked examples) nor pure discovery was particularly effective in promoting development of the SA
Is learning the SA a goal of algebra instruction? If so, how should it best be taught?
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Implications for flexibility Flexibility aided by activities such as the
alternative ordering task, where students generate and compare multiple strategies for solving procedural problems
Direct instruction did not improve chances of discovering the SA, so activities such as the alternative ordering task appear to be a win-win proposition
This presentation and other related papers can be downloaded at:
www.msu.edu/~jonstar
Jon R. Star Michigan State University [email protected]