Early Algebra Project

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Tom and Elizabeth with Children at Sherwood State School

In the Early Algebra project, Associate Professor Elizabeth Warren (ACU National) and Professor Tom Cooper (Queensland Institute of Technology) work collaboratively with classroom teachers from?five primary schools in Queensland's Western Alliance cluster to construct a model of children's cognitive development with regard to algebraic reasoning and to develop instructional strategies and teaching episodes to facilitate this.

Early algebra is not about introducing formal algebra in the early years but is about developing arithmetic reasoning in conjunction with algebraic reasoning.?For primary students, it is not necessary for algebraic reasoning to include the formal manipulations of symbols that is characteristic of secondary algebra.

This work commenced with Year 3 students in 2003 and will continue in these schools throughout the term of the project.

The aim of this research is to investigate how young children can move from arithmetical to algebraic reasoning, that is, generalise knowledge into powerful abstract systems for representing, relating and operating on mathematical ideas, thus allowing access by all students to the powerful ideas of algebra.

Teachers involved in this project not only to help with the data collection from students but also assist in delineating strategies for improving student's learning. The data collection takes the form of observations, interviews, videotapes of lessons, collection of artifacts, and reflective discussions with students and teachers. Data collection occurs during normal class times and is incorporated into the learning and teaching of mathematics.

The arithmetic underpinnings of algebra include understanding of equals, operations and arithmetic properties (arithmetic structure) while algebraic reasoning is the understanding of generalisation, representation and function in elementary arithmetic (where function is the study of the precursors of formal functions, that is, pattern, relationship and operational change).

Last Modified: 19:20:54 Sunday, 2 March, 2008