Forrester1998

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Forrester1998
BibType ARTICLE
Key Forrester1998
Author(s) Michael A. Forrester, Christopher D. Pike
Title Learning to estimate in the mathematics classroom: A conversation analytic approach
Editor(s)
Tag(s) EMCA, Education, Children, Conversation Analysis, Mathematics
Publisher
Year 1998
Language
City
Month
Journal Journal for the Research in Mathematics Education
Volume 29
Number 3
Pages 334–356
URL Link
DOI 10.2307/749793
ISBN
Organization
Institution
School
Type
Edition
Series
Howpublished
Book title
Chapter

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Abstract

In contrast to contemporary estimation researchers who have focused primarily on children's computational estimation abilities, we examined the ideas surrounding the teaching and learning of measurement estimation in the classroom. Employing ethnomethodologically informed conversation analysis, we focused on 2 teachers' instructions during estimation lessons and on pupils' (aged 9-11 years) talk during small-group follow-up activities. The results indicated that estimation is understood as discursively interdependent with measurement and is associated both with teacher-formulated accountability and with vagueness, ambiguity, and guessing. Furthermore, the meaning of what it is to estimate is embedded in practical action. In concluding comments we consider the advantages of using conversational analysis as a method for highlighting the relationships between language and mathematics in the classroom.

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