Analyzing effective communication in mathematics group work: The role of visual mediators and technical terms

• Published in: Educational studies in mathematics Vol. 82; no. 3; pp. 497 - 514
• Main Authors: Ryve, Andreas, Nilsson, Per, Pettersson, Kerstin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 2013; Springer Netherlands
• Subjects: Classroom discourse; Collaboration; College Students; Communications media; Conceptualization; Contextualization; Criticism; Didactics; didaktik; Education; Effective communication; Group discussion; Matematikdidaktik; Mathematical Education; Mathematical functions; Mathematical induction; Mathematical Logic; Mathematics; Mathematics Education; Mathematics Instruction; Researchers; Technical terms; Validity; Visual communication; Visual mediators; Effective communication; Contextualization; Classroom discourse; Technical terms; Visual mediators
• ISSN: 0013-1954; 1573-0816; 1573-0816
• DOI: 10.1007/s10649-012-9442-6

Analyzing and designing productive group work and effective communication constitute ongoing research interests in mathematics education. In this article we contribute to this research by using and developing a newly introduced analytical approach for examining effective communication within group work in mathematics education. By using data from 12 to 13-year old students playing a dice game as well as from a group of university students working with a proof by induction, the article shows how the link between visual mediators and technical terms is crucial in students' attempts to communicate effectively. The critical evaluation of visual mediators and technical terms, and of links between them, is useful for researchers interested in analyzing effective communication and designing environments providing opportunities for students to learn mathematics.