PROCEEDINGS OF THE 16TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON RESEARCH IN UNDERGRADUATE MATHEMATICS EDUCATION (Vol 2)
2013
Denver, Colorado
Lessons Learned From a Design Experiment on Students Comprehension of Proofs
Page: 2-242
Previous studies in proof reading have identified several strategies to improve students’ proof comprehension. In this study, we report on what we have learned from the first two iterations of a design experiment in which students were taught to apply these strategies. When coupled with modest teacher support, students made significant learning gains. Particular success was found by encouraging students to consider how they would prove the theorem, to use examples to understand assertions in the proof, and to examine definitions before reading the proof. We also discuss some of the difficulties we encountered in teaching students to implement these reading strategies, and the steps we took to attempt to resolve these difficulties.