Star Breakout Slides TRC2013

A Conversation about Algebra
Jon R. Star, Harvard University
27 June 2013
Framing questions
What is algebra? Why is algebra hard for students? Why do we teach algebra?
27 June 2013
Why is algebra hard?

1. Lack of clarity among teachers and researchers about what algebra is Hard to design curriculum and effectively teach students if we can t agree on what algebra is
(More on this in a moment...)
27 June 2013

2. For parents, consensus about what algebra is: Algebra is about doing mysterious things with the last three letters of the alphabet?!
Most adults don t use algebra in their daily lives?! Why should students learn algebra at all?! Why don t we focus on other math topics that are more important and relevant to real life?!
Difficult for parents to be supportive of our efforts in algebra with this view of the topic
27 June 2013 A Conversation about Algebra 4

3. Algebra represents a leap in abstraction for students, and this is hard! Moving from the tools and ways of reasoning used in arithmetic, which often involve counting or working with concrete objects, to the more abstract reasoning and generalization processes involved in algebra, is a long and hard process for many students
27 June 2013
Why is algebra so important?

1. Completing an algebra course is linked to success in later math courses, college graduation rates, ability to get certain kinds of jobs, etc. Algebra is considered a critical gatekeeper course, in that taking and passing algebra opens up educational and career doors that would otherwise be closed
27 June 2013

2. Algebra, and the reasoning that is a part of algebra, is a core component of the discipline of mathematics One reason that students take math in school is to get exposure to what mathematics is all about, and algebra and algebraic reasoning play an extremely important role in mathematics
27 June 2013

3. Some also make the argument that students should take algebra because it is useful in daily life We are constantly using algebra in our personal and professional lives, even when we don't know we are using algebra This includes deductive and inductive reasoning skills that can be learned in algebra
What is algebra?
At present, two main ways of thinking about algebra in the US mathematics curriculum A function-based view An equation-based view
27 June 2013
Function-based view of algebra

Algebra is primarily about relationships between quantities that vary, how to represent these relationships, and how to use representations to analyze, generalize, and make predictions about these relationships
27 June 2013
10
Function-based example
Sarah decided to spend her savings to buy music for her iPod. She has $100 now and spends $10 each week. How much money does she have in her savings account?
The image cannot be displayed. Your computer may not have enough memory to open the image, or the image may have been corrupted. Restart your computer, and then open the le again. If the red x still appears, you may have to delete the image and then insert it again.
Week 0 1 2 3
27 June 2013
$ 100 90 80 70
A Conversation about Algebra 11
Equation-based view of algebra

Algebra is primarily about modeling relationships with symbols and then using symbols to determine features of these relationships
27 June 2013
12
Equation-based examples
1) Solve for y when x = 4
y = 3x ! 0.5
2) What is the value of (15 x 4 )0 ?
5 x 3x x ! ! 3) Combine: 6 12 3
27 June 2013
13
Connecting both views of algebra

Algebra is about both of these views, but we've found it difficult to connect function- and equation-based views in our instruction
Also, these two views are separated temporally function-based views are present in many middle school curricula but equation-based views are present in most high school curricula
Even when both views exist simultaneously in an algebra course, they are not wellintegrated
Algebra table of contents
27 June 2013
15
Another way to think about algebra

Instead of What is algebra? , instead ask
What does it mean to understand algebra?
27 June 2013
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Understanding in algebra
Representations: Symbols, graphs, tables
Representations are useful to analyzing relationships between quantities
Understanding in algebra is:

Ability to move fluently between multiple representations Ability to operate fluently within each representation
27 June 2013
17
Representations
Tabular
x 0 1 2 3 y -3 2 7 12
Graphical
Symbolic y = 5x - 3
27 June 2013
18
Between representations
Analyze situations using graphs, tables, and symbols Make connections between graphs, tables, and symbols
27 June 2013
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Example of between : slope

Tabular
x 0 1 2 3 y -3 2 7 12
Graphical
Symbolic y = 5x - 3
27 June 2013
20
Example of between : y intercept

Tabular
x 0 1 2 3 y -3 2 7 12
Graphical
Symbolic y = 5x - 3
27 June 2013
21
Within representation
Know concepts and skills for working with a single representation But also know multiple strategies in a representation, including the ability to select the most appropriate strategies in that representation for a given problem Flexibility within a given representation
27 June 2013
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Within example in an equation

Problem 1 Strategy 1 3(x + 1) = 15 3x + 3 = 15 3x = 12 x=4 Problem 2 Strategy 1 3(x + 1) = 14 3x + 3 = 14 3x = 11 x = 11/3
27 June 2013
Problem 1 Strategy 2 3(x + 1) = 15 x+1=5 x=4
Problem 2 Strategy 2 3(x + 1) = 14 x + 1 = 14/3 x = 11/3

23
Within example using tables

Create a table for the following equation:
1 y = x+4 3
Standard Way: x 0 1 2 3 y 4 4 1/3 4 2/3 5

Short Way: x 0 3 6 9 y 4 5 6 7
27 June 2013
24
How can we help?

How can we help students be more successful in algebra? (If you heard my talk this morning, you may be able to guess one possible answer?!) Comparison!
27 June 2013
25
Thanks!
Dr. Jon R. Star

Harvard Graduate School of Education [email protected]

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A Conversation about Algebra

Jon R. Star, Harvard University

A Conversation about Algebra

A Conversation about Algebra

Why is algebra hard?

A Conversation about Algebra

Why is algebra hard?

Why is algebra hard?

A Conversation about Algebra

Why is algebra so important?

A Conversation about Algebra

Why is algebra so important?

A Conversation about Algebra

Why is algebra so important?

A Conversation about Algebra

Function-based view of algebra

A Conversation about Algebra

Equation-based view of algebra

A Conversation about Algebra

A Conversation about Algebra

Connecting both views of algebra

Algebra table of contents

A Conversation about Algebra

Another way to think about algebra

What does it mean to understand algebra?

A Conversation about Algebra

Understanding in algebra is:

A Conversation about Algebra

A Conversation about Algebra

A Conversation about Algebra

Example of between : slope

A Conversation about Algebra

Example of between : y intercept

A Conversation about Algebra

A Conversation about Algebra

Within example in an equation

Problem 1 Strategy 2 3(x + 1) = 15 x+1=5 x=4

Problem 2 Strategy 2 3(x + 1) = 14 x + 1 = 14/3 x = 11/3

A Conversation about Algebra

Within example using tables

A Conversation about Algebra

How can we help?

A Conversation about Algebra

Dr. Jon R. Star

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