TY - JOUR
T1 - Proportional reasoning in the laboratory
T2 - An intervention study in vocational education
AU - Bakker, Arthur
AU - Groenveld, Djonie
AU - Wijers, Monica
AU - Akkerman, Sanne F.
AU - Gravemeijer, Koeno P E
PY - 2014/1/1
Y1 - 2014/1/1
N2 - Based on insights into the nature of vocational mathematical knowledge, we designed a computer tool with which students in laboratory schools at senior secondary vocational school level could develop a better proficiency in the proportional reasoning involved in dilution. We did so because we had identified computations of concentrations of chemical substances after dilution as a problematic area in the vocational education of laboratory technicians. Pre- and post-test results indeed show that 47 students aged 16-23 significantly improved their proportional reasoning in this domain with brief instruction time (50-90 min). Effect sizes were mostly large. The approach of using a visual tool that foregrounds mathematical aspects of laboratory work thus illustrates how vocational mathematical knowledge can be developed effectively and efficiently.
AB - Based on insights into the nature of vocational mathematical knowledge, we designed a computer tool with which students in laboratory schools at senior secondary vocational school level could develop a better proficiency in the proportional reasoning involved in dilution. We did so because we had identified computations of concentrations of chemical substances after dilution as a problematic area in the vocational education of laboratory technicians. Pre- and post-test results indeed show that 47 students aged 16-23 significantly improved their proportional reasoning in this domain with brief instruction time (50-90 min). Effect sizes were mostly large. The approach of using a visual tool that foregrounds mathematical aspects of laboratory work thus illustrates how vocational mathematical knowledge can be developed effectively and efficiently.
KW - Computer tool
KW - Hybridity
KW - Janus-head nature of vocational mathematics
KW - Proportional reasoning
KW - Situated abstraction
KW - Workplace mathematics
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84901041431&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10649-012-9393-y
DO - 10.1007/s10649-012-9393-y
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84901041431
SN - 0013-1954
VL - 86
SP - 211
EP - 221
JO - Educational Studies in Mathematics
JF - Educational Studies in Mathematics
IS - 2
ER -