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Using variation theory to analyze what preschool children experience exemplified by wholes and parts as the object of learning

Holmqvist, Mona LU orcid ; Tullgren, Charlotte LU and Brante, Göran LU (2010) 4th International Multi-Conference on Society, Cybernetics and Informatics, IMSCI 2010 In IMSCI 2010 - 4th International Multi-Conference on Society, Cybernetics and Informatics, Proceedings 1. p.8-11
Abstract

Preschool children's learning isthe subject of this study. Three children aged 4, 5 and 6 participated. The data consist of individual interviews with the children before and after the intervention and a videotaped intervention. Our results show that children seem to see a whole as something that is not cut into pieces, no matter what it looks like. They do not necessarily refer to the whole when they see a half, nor do they imagine the halves or quarters in a whole that is not cut into pieces. On the other hand, if they see halves they do not have any difficulty putting them together into a whole, but this happens when they can see the material in front of them. The results reveal some interesting findings, pointing at the natural... (More)

Preschool children's learning isthe subject of this study. Three children aged 4, 5 and 6 participated. The data consist of individual interviews with the children before and after the intervention and a videotaped intervention. Our results show that children seem to see a whole as something that is not cut into pieces, no matter what it looks like. They do not necessarily refer to the whole when they see a half, nor do they imagine the halves or quarters in a whole that is not cut into pieces. On the other hand, if they see halves they do not have any difficulty putting them together into a whole, but this happens when they can see the material in front of them. The results reveal some interesting findings, pointing at the natural flexibility small children have in discerning a half in relation to a whole instead of in relation to a representation (like a full circle). On the other hand -the children show difficulties in seeing what parts a whole can be divided into. This is the other way around, as children in higher grades with a view of the circle as the correct representation of a whole, which sometimes makes it hard to manage problem solving at higher grades where flexibility in how to understand proportions is needed.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Learning study, Mathematical concepts, Preschool, Variation theory
host publication
IMSCI 2010 - 4th International Multi-Conference on Society, Cybernetics and Informatics, Proceedings
series title
IMSCI 2010 - 4th International Multi-Conference on Society, Cybernetics and Informatics, Proceedings
volume
1
pages
4 pages
publisher
International Institute of Informatics and Systemics
conference name
4th International Multi-Conference on Society, Cybernetics and Informatics, IMSCI 2010
conference location
Orlando, FL, United States
conference dates
2010-06-29 - 2010-07-02
external identifiers
  • scopus:84896263635
ISBN
9781936338054
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
8409ef3b-4092-4723-9c79-eb2827b4c14a
date added to LUP
2023-09-05 14:12:59
date last changed
2023-09-14 10:55:44
@inproceedings{8409ef3b-4092-4723-9c79-eb2827b4c14a,
  abstract     = {{<p>Preschool children's learning isthe subject of this study. Three children aged 4, 5 and 6 participated. The data consist of individual interviews with the children before and after the intervention and a videotaped intervention. Our results show that children seem to see a whole as something that is not cut into pieces, no matter what it looks like. They do not necessarily refer to the whole when they see a half, nor do they imagine the halves or quarters in a whole that is not cut into pieces. On the other hand, if they see halves they do not have any difficulty putting them together into a whole, but this happens when they can see the material in front of them. The results reveal some interesting findings, pointing at the natural flexibility small children have in discerning a half in relation to a whole instead of in relation to a representation (like a full circle). On the other hand -the children show difficulties in seeing what parts a whole can be divided into. This is the other way around, as children in higher grades with a view of the circle as the correct representation of a whole, which sometimes makes it hard to manage problem solving at higher grades where flexibility in how to understand proportions is needed.</p>}},
  author       = {{Holmqvist, Mona and Tullgren, Charlotte and Brante, Göran}},
  booktitle    = {{IMSCI 2010 - 4th International Multi-Conference on Society, Cybernetics and Informatics, Proceedings}},
  isbn         = {{9781936338054}},
  keywords     = {{Learning study; Mathematical concepts; Preschool; Variation theory}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{8--11}},
  publisher    = {{International Institute of Informatics and Systemics}},
  series       = {{IMSCI 2010 - 4th International Multi-Conference on Society, Cybernetics and Informatics, Proceedings}},
  title        = {{Using variation theory to analyze what preschool children experience exemplified by wholes and parts as the object of learning}},
  volume       = {{1}},
  year         = {{2010}},
}