Enhancing students mathematical thinking using applets

Abstract

This article presents two different classroom situations in which two pairs of students, one in grade 2 and the other in grade 6, attempted mathematically challenging problems through GeoGebra applets. Their reasoning, conjecture making, and argumentation is analyzed using Pea’s (1985, 1987) theory of technology as amplifier and reorganizer and the notion of internal and external representations. GeoGebra played the role of amplifier and reorganizer in enabling students’ explorations and led them to make conjectures. Furthermore, it was observed that students’ static internal representations were enhanced to more dynamic external representations and this played a significant role in developing students’ thinking. The three aspects of fidelity have been discussed with regard to the use of GeoGebra based applets and how such applets need to be critically designed and assessed in order to support students’ learning.