ABSTRACT

This volume emphasizes the role of effective curriculum design, teaching materials, and pedagogy to foster algebra structure sense at different educational levels.

Positing algebra structure sense as fundamental to developing students’ broader mathematical maturity and advanced thinking, this text reviews conceptual, historical, cognitive, and semiotic factors, which influence the acquisition of algebra structure sense. It provides empirical evidence to demonstrate the feasibility of linking algebra structure sense to technological tools and promoting it amongst diverse learners. Didactic approaches include the use of adaptive digital environments, gamification, diagnostic and monitoring tools, as well as exercises and algebraic sequences of varied complexity.

Advocating for a focus on both intuitive and formal knowledge, this volume will be of interest to students, scholars, and researchers with an interest in educational research, as well as mathematics education and numeracy.

chapter 1|19 pages

Algebra Structure Sense

Conceptual Approaches and Elements for Its Development

chapter 3|32 pages

Structure Sense at Early Ages

The Case of Equivalence of Numerical Expressions and Equalities

chapter 4|21 pages

Developing Structure Sense with Digital Technologies

Introducing the MEx Platform

chapter 8|14 pages

On the Connection of Structure Sense in Mathematics and Who Sees and Transforms It

Internal Structure, Visual Salience, and Transformative Algebra