Sunday, September 20, 2015

RME-5: Emergent modeling: From chains of signification to cascades of artifacts

I gave this talk at the Fifth International Conference on Realistic Mathematics Education in Boulder CO.


It's a somewhat theoretical talk.

Abstract:

Emergent modeling is a key design principle in RME. The process of emergent modeling is often described using a construct from semiotics called a chain of signification. I show that chains of signification are inadequate to describe both the process and product of emergent modeling. To overcome these inadequacies, I introduce a new construct called the cascade of artifacts. I conclude with implications for research and design.

In English: 

Often, in RME, we see the process of emergent modeling as a hierarchical process in which progressively more formal versions of a model emerge in linear sequence. This is described as creating a "chain of signification:"


In this talk, I argued that the construct of a chain of signification is an inadequate representation of both the process and product of emergent modeling.

  • As a representation of the process of emergent modeling, a chain of signification is inadequate because it requires a strict one-to-one mapping between signifier and signified. 
  • As a representation of the product of emergent modeling (viz. the students’ mathematical worlds), a chain of signification is inadequate because it implies that the mathematical world is hierarchical and siloed. 

Given the above shortcomings, I argued that emerged modeling is a process where students create new models, tools, and strategies as coordinated assemblies of existing mathematical objects. This happens as students engage in mathematical activity that is not accessible using their existing mathematics and social interaction.



The metaphor shifts: from a chain of signification to a cascade of artifacts:


Visual representations of the cascade, like the one above, give researchers and teachers a representation of both the process of emergent modeling (how objects get assembled and coordinated to make new objects), and the product (the mathematical world). With respect to the latter, the cascade shows how the mathematical world is relational and web-like, and not hierarchal and siloed.

To learn more, download the presentation, and see the posts on slope (NCTM 2014, CCTM 2014) which exemplify the use of the cascade of artifacts.









Friday, September 18, 2015

RME-5: Opening plenary: An orientation to Realistic Mathematics Education

My colleagues and I from the Freudenthal Institute US gave this opening plenary at the Fifth International Conference on Realistic Mathematics Education. If you're wondering what RME is all about, look no further!

Monday, February 2, 2015

CTR 2015: Using models to do and learn math

At the Courage to Risk 2015 conference, Mark Semmler, Cindy Ritter and I gave three talks about how models help students do and learn mathematics. CTR is a conference for special education professionals. These presentations are designed to be practical, and they link research in special education to research in math education to real student work and classroom ideas. Each presentation discusses a specific model, and then shows how that model evolves from elementary to middle to high school, with examples from each level.

Click on the images below to download the slides