Submitted by Maria Suzana Diniz (msuzanad@hotmail.com) on 2015-11-25T14:45:50Z No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 1986105 bytes, checksum: 13e2d7f300d8132cc7698bcbd127956d (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-11-25T14:45:50Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 1986105 bytes, checksum: 13e2d7f300d8132cc7698bcbd127956d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-02-25 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / This paper deals with some peculiarities involving mathematical writing that generate many communication problems through different perspectives. In a time where the Internet is increasingly used and where it is common to see people on the streets carrying tablet computers, smartphones and even laptops, it is unacceptable that there is no simple and common knowledge way to insert a mathematic equation on a web search. Initially we address the interaction between people with special needs, especially those who make use of applications or devices for easy communication, then treat the virtual communication applied to the form of distance education, whether instantaneous or not instantaneous. Following deal about differences between Mathematics written in Portuguese and other languages as well as inconsistencies in mathematical notation observed in Brazil. Then treat the common text input forms used in Information and Communication Technologies to finish with a rough draft agreement that meets the needs exposed at work. / Este trabalho aborda algumas peculiaridades envolvendo a escrita matemática que geram problemas de comunicação diversos através de diferentes perspectivas. Em uma época onde a Internet é cada vez mais usada e na qual é comum ver pessoas nas ruas portando tablets, smartphones e mesmo computadores portáteis, é inaceitável que não exista uma forma simples e de conhecimento comum para se inserir uma equação matemática em um site de busca.Inicialmente abordamos a interação entre portadores de necessidades especiais, principalmente os que façam uso de aplicativos ou dispositivos para facilitar sua comunicação, em seguida tratamos da comunicação virtual aplicada à modalidade de educação à distância, quer seja instantânea ou não instantânea. Na sequência tratamos sobre divergências entre a escrita matemática na língua portuguesa e outras línguas bem como inconsistências na notação matemática observadas no Brasil. Tratamos então das formas de inserção de texto comuns usadas nas Tecnologias da Informação e Comunicação para finalizar com uma proposta rudimentar de convenção que atenda às necessidades expostas durante o trabalho.

Mathematics learning seems to be a demanding and time-consuming task for many learners. Information and communication technology (ICT) is an attractive tool of learning for students at any level and it can provide an effective atmosphere for understanding mathematics. The question is how to combine mathematics teaching contents, approaches, curricula, and syllabus with new media. The key issue in European educational policy (and other countries as well) is exchange and sharing digital learning resources (learning objects) among countries. In order to accumulate the practice of various countries and use the best digital resources created by different countries, it is necessary to localize learning objects (LO). The paper deals with some problems connected with localization of LO, developed for mathematics education, and presents some solution. Software localization is mainly referred to as language translation (e.g., translation of user interface texts and help documents). However, there are many other important elements depending on the country and people who will use the localized software. In this paper, the main attention is paid to localization of learning objects used for teaching and learning mathematics.

Submitted by Viviane Lima da Cunha (viviane@biblioteca.ufpb.br) on 2015-12-07T12:54:06Z No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 1986112 bytes, checksum: 4f03fdfe4b28baad2cf9829f54857dfc (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Viviane Lima da Cunha (viviane@biblioteca.ufpb.br) on 2015-12-07T12:54:36Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 1986112 bytes, checksum: 4f03fdfe4b28baad2cf9829f54857dfc (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-12-07T12:54:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 1986112 bytes, checksum: 4f03fdfe4b28baad2cf9829f54857dfc (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-02-25 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / This paper deals with some peculiarities involving mathematical writing that generate many communication problems through different perspectives. In a time where the Internet is increasingly used and where it is common to see people on the streets carrying tablet computers, smartphones and even laptops, it is unacceptable that there is no simple and common knowledge way to insert a mathematic equation on a web search. Initially we address the interaction between people with special needs, especially those who make use of applications or devices for easy communication, then treat the virtual communication applied to the form of distance education, whether instantaneous or not instantaneous. Following deal about differences between Mathematics written in Portuguese and other languages as well as inconsistencies in mathematical notation observed in Brazil. Then treat the common text input forms used in Information and Communication Technologies to finish with a rough draft agreement that meets the needs exposed at work. / Este trabalho aborda algumas peculiaridades envolvendo a escrita matemática que geram problemas de comunicação diversos através de diferentes perspectivas. Em uma época onde a Internet é cada vez mais usada e na qual é comum ver pessoas nas ruas portando tablets, smartphones e mesmo computadores portáteis, é inaceitável que não exista uma forma simples e de conhecimento comum para se inserir uma equação matemática em um site de busca.Inicialmente abordamos a interação entre portadores de necessidades especiais, principalmente os que façam uso de aplicativos ou dispositivos para facilitar sua comunicação, em seguida tratamos da comunicação virtual aplicada à modalidade de educação à distância, quer seja instantânea ou não instantânea. Na sequência tratamos sobre divergências entre a escrita matemática na língua portuguesa e outras línguas bem como inconsistências na notação matemática observadas no Brasil. Tratamos então das formas de inserção de texto comuns usadas nas Tecnologias da Informação e Comunicação para finalizar com uma proposta rudimentar de convenção que atenda às necessidades expostas durante o trabalho.

This study reports on an investigation into the manner in which mathematical symbols influence learners’ understanding of mathematical concepts. The study was conducted in Greater Sekhukhune and Capricorn districts of Limpopo Province, South Africa. Multistage sampling (for the district), simple random sampling (for the schools), purposive sampling (for the teachers) and stratified random sampling with proportional allocation (for the learners) were used. The study was conducted in six schools randomly selected from rural, semi-urban and urban settings. A sample of 565 FET learners and 15 FET band mathematics teachers participated in the study. This study is guided by four interrelated constructivist theories: symbol sense, algebraic insight, APOS and procept theories. The research instruments for the study consist of questionnaires and interviews. A mixed method approach that was predominantly qualitative was employed. An analysis of learners’ difficulties with mathematical symbols produced three (3) clusters. The main cluster consists of 236 (41.6%) learners who indicate that they experience severe challenges with mathematical symbols compared to 108 (19.1%) learners who indicated that they could confidently handle and manipulate mathematical symbols with understanding. Six (6) categories of challenges with mathematical symbols emerged from learners’ encounters with mathematical symbols: reading mathematical text and symbols, prior knowledge, time allocated for mathematical classes and activities, lack of symbol sense and problem contexts and pedagogical approaches to mathematical symbolisation. Two sets of theme classes related to learners’ difficulties with mathematical symbols and instructional strategies emerged. Learners lack symbol sense for mathematical concepts and algebraic insight for problem solving. Learners stick to procedurally driven symbols at the expense of conceptual and contextual understanding. From a pedagogical perspective teachers indicated that they face the following difficulties when teaching: the challenge of introducing unfamiliar notation in a new topic; reading, writing and verbalising symbols; signifier and signified connections; and teaching both symbolisation and conceptual understanding simultaneously. The study recommends teachers to use strategies such as informed choice of subject matter and a pedagogical approach in which concepts are understood before they are symbolised. / Mathematics, Science and Technology Education / D. Phil. (Mathematics, Science and Technology Education)

The study examined the use of multiple representations such as the real world, written symbols, spoken symbols, diagrams and manipulatives by learners to promote the learning of percentages and fractions through social interaction. This investigation was carried out through a teaching and learning programme which was developed and implemented by me, the researcher. The effect of the implemented programme was the main focus of the research. The qualitative study was oriented in the interpretive paradigm – a paradigm that seeks to understand the meaning attached to human actions. Twenty learners participated in the implementation of the programme and 9 learners were selected for focus group interviews. The purpose of the interviews was to explore learners' understanding and feelings about the use of multiple representations in the learning of percentages and fractions through social interactions. The other tools employed in this study were pre-and-post diagnostic tests, observations, learners' work and a journal. The pre-test was used to determine learners' prior knowledge for the program design and implementation, while the post-test and learners' work were used to analyze the effect of the programme. Observations were used to investigate how multiple representations promoted or did not promote the learning of percentages and fractions. The teacher's journal was to record and reflect on any relevant information gathered on each lesson observed. The data shows that the effective use of multiple representations helped learners learn the concept of percentages and fractions better. Learners were able to look at representations in useful ways; multiple representations made some aspects of the concept clear; and multiple representations enabled learners to correct errors. Through the interaction between the teacher and learners, the following was found: all the learners changed words to change focus; learners made links between multiple representations; the learners deepened their concepts of percentages and fractions; learners could convert between fractions using multiple representations; learners could work out percentages of a quantity; and learners could express one quantity as a percentage of another. Furthermore, through the interaction between learners and learners all learners could identify more equivalent fractions of an initial fraction which was given to them; and they could increase and decrease a quantity by a given percentage. On the basis of this research, it can be concluded that the programme promoted the learning of percentages and fractions through three effective methodologies. The first methodology consisted of the effective use of multiple representations; the second methodology concerned the interaction between the teacher and learner during the learning process and the last methodology related to the interaction between the learners - interactions that were not strongly mediated by the teacher. I would recommend that teachers use these three effective approaches when teaching percentages and fractions to promote the learning of the concepts.

Mathematics learning seems to be a demanding and time-consuming task for many learners. Information and communication technology (ICT) is an attractive tool of learning for students at any level and it can provide an effective atmosphere for understanding mathematics. The question is how to combine mathematics teaching contents, approaches, curricula, and syllabus with new media. The key issue in European educational policy (and other countries as well) is exchange and sharing digital learning resources (learning objects) among countries. In order to accumulate the practice of various countries and use the best digital resources created by different countries, it is necessary to localize learning objects (LO). The paper deals with some problems connected with localization of LO, developed for mathematics education, and presents some solution. Software localization is mainly referred to as language translation (e.g., translation of user interface texts and help documents). However, there are many other important elements depending on the country and people who will use the localized software. In this paper, the main attention is paid to localization of learning objects used for teaching and learning mathematics.