ABSTRACT
Digital technologies are changing the teaching and learning of algebra. This chapter introduces the MEx platform, a digital environment specifically designed to support symbolic algebra structure sense. The first part of the chapter reviews different approaches to using digital tools for teaching and learning algebra. This review includes interface design, game-based learning, multi-representational learning, and symbolic algebra support. The second part describes a range of digital tools that can be employed to develop structure sense, including Desmos, Graspable Math, Mathigon, Khan Academy, and Alcumus. The third part of the chapter outlines design principles for supporting structure sense: adaptivity, gamification, interaction design, learning analytics dashboards, and worked examples. The fourth part introduces the MEx platform, built upon algebraic ideas essential for developing structure sense, including equivalence, substitution, and the dual nature of algebraic expressions as processes and objects. The design principles of MEx include metaphors, levelling-up, symbolic computation, feedback, visual salience, variation, and gamification.
