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Abstract Title: Modeling the Creation of Procedural Resources
Abstract: A problem in resource theory is to describe the creation of new, high-level resources. We give an example of resource creation by analyzing four student groups separating variables in a group quiz setting.  The task was to solve an air resistance problem with uncommon initial conditions.   The fluency of each group is described by three observables:  use of overt mathematical language (such as divide, subtract, or equals), use of covert mathematical language (such as moving, bringing, or pulling over), and use of accompanying gestures (such as circling, grabbing, or sliding). For each group, the type of language and gesture used corresponds to how easily they carry out separation of variables.  We create resource graphs [1,2] for each group to organize our observations and use these graphs to describe a potential reification  process [3] for the procedural resources grouping and separate variables.

[1] Wittmann, 2006
[2] Black, Wittmann, 2007
[3] Sfard, 1991
Abstract Type: Contributed Poster

Author/Organizer Information

Primary Contact: Katrina Black
University of Maine
120 Bennett Hall
Department of Physics and Astronomy
Orono, ME 04469
Phone: 207 581 1010
Co-Author(s)
and Co-Presenter(s)
Michael Wittmann, University of Maine