PROCEEDINGS OF THE 21ST ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON RESEARCH IN UNDERGRADUATE MATHEMATICS EDUCATION
2018
San Diego, California
Sparky the Saguaro: A Teaching Experiment Examining a Student’s Development of the Concept of Logarithms
Page: 441
A number of studies have examined students’ difficulties in understanding the idea of logarithm and the effectiveness of non-traditional interventions. However, few studies have examined the understandings students develop when completing conceptually oriented exponential and logarithmic lessons that build off prior research and understandings. This study explores one undergraduate precalculus student’s understandings of concepts foundational to the idea of logarithm as she works through an exploratory lesson on exponential and logarithmic functions. Over the course of a few weeks, the student participated in a teaching experiment that focused on Sparky – a mystical saguaro that doubled in height every week. The lesson was centered on growth factors and tupling periods in an effort to support the student in developing the understandings necessary to discuss logarithms and logarithmic properties meaningfully. This paper discusses an essential component that students must conceptualize in order to hold a productive meaning for logarithms and logarithmic properties.