Discusses children's use of spreadsheets and the access that this gives to the instantaneous production of a variety of graphs. (10 references) (MKR)

Describes research using a pedagogic strategy developed during an exploratory work called Active Graphing in which access to spreadsheets allows graphs to be used as analytic tools within practical experiments. Identifies aspects of student interaction with the experiment itself, the data collected and the graphs, and traces the emergence of…

We describe the design of a sequence of spreadsheet-based pedagogic tasks for the introduction of algebra in the early years of secondary schooling within the Purposeful Algebraic Activity project. This design combines two relatively novel features to bring a different perspective to research in the use of spreadsheets for the learning and…

Looks back over a number of exploratory studies that have researched young children's construction of meaning for graphs produced from data entered into spreadsheets. Discusses children's use of normalizing, an activity in which children 'correct' data towards some perceived norm. (Author/MM)

Addresses the early stages of children's introduction to the use of variables in formal algebraic notation. Describes a teaching approach that aims to situate the use of formal notation in meaningful contexts. Presents a study of a teaching sequence based on children working with this approach using graphical feedback in problem solutions. (AIM)

The Purposeful Algebraic Activity project aims to explore the potential of spreadsheets in the introduction to algebra and algebraic thinking. We discuss two sub-themes within the project: tracing the development of pupils' construction of meaning for variable from arithmetic-based activity, through use of spreadsheets, and into formal algebra,…

The Purposeful Algebraic Activity Project is a longitudinal study of the development of pupils' algebraic activity in the early years of their secondary schooling. Analysis of data from a spreadsheet-based teaching programme and from semi-structured interviews leads us to identify three features of the spreadsheet environment that appear to shape…

We report on one aspect of a longitudinal study which seeks insight into the ways in which spreadsheet experience and teachers' pedagogic strategies shape pupils' construction of meaning for algebra. Using data from stimulated recall interviews we analyse the evolution of meaning for variable through the mediation of the variable cell and the…