RUME 25
2023
Omaha, Nebraska
Star Polygons: Symbolizing as Advancing Mathematical Activity in a Scripting Task
Page: 235
Research indicates that investigating phenomena, rather than reproducing facts, should be a core experience in mathematics education. But despite its centrality to quality teacher education, it is still unclear how the effects of investigation tasks on teachers’ mathematical development can be analyzed. In this study, we demonstrate the potential of scripting tasks as an avenue for capturing mathematical activity during an investigation. Participants, comprised of prospective and practicing teachers, explored the concept of a “star polygon” and recorded their deliberations, ideas, and conclusions as a scripted dialogue. We analyzed their submissions using the construct of advancing mathematical activity (Rasmussen et al., 2005; Rasmussen et al., 2015), focusing on how participants’ interpretation and creation of symbols intersects other types of activity.