Coordinating Social and Individual Aspects of Generalizing Activity: A Multi-Tiered Focusing Phenomona Study

This project seeks to develop knowledge about students’ learning of algebra; in particular, their generalizations and possible focusing phenomena related to quadratic functions. Focusing phenomena is a new domain that incorporates generalized knowledge developed in linear functions and that constitutes a natural extension of previous work. Data collected from classroom observations and student interviews will serve to identify some of the generalizations students develop about quadratic functions, and the focusing phenomena supporting those generalizations. Instructional units will be developed in collaboration with teachers.