PROCEEDINGS OF THE 18TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON RESEARCH IN UNDERGRADUATE MATHEMATICS EDUCATION
2015
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
An exploration of students’ conceptions of rational functions while working in a CAS-enriched dynamic environment
Page: 1061
Studying families of functions is important for developing an understanding of the concept of function. This study utilized a computer algebra system (CAS) learning environment as it explored how students conceptualize rational functions. Using APOS theory as a theoretical framework, student artifacts from video, audio, and screen recordings were coded as either: action, process, or object conceptions of rational functions. The results of this study describe how students portray different conceptions of rational functions. This list is not exhaustive, but provides a starting point for identifying how students perceive of rational functions in a technological environment. Developing an understanding of how students conceptualize rational functions could lead to useful implications for teaching.