Can sketches help pupils to better understand mathematical problems? The aim of a project at Osnabrück University is to develop teaching material for grades five to ten that visualizes mathematical tasks and thus helps learners to better understand and solve problems. The project is funded by the Müller-Reitz Foundation
A text task from a math lesson: "The Münster fire department has a total of 16 locations in the city centre, so it has to travel a maximum of six kilometers to a burning house." This is followed by further information, lots of numbers and, at the end, the question: "From what height can the Münster fire department rescue people with a turntable ladder vehicle?"
A drawing that shows all the relevant figures and objects from the text can be helpful in solving the task - but empirical findings show that students rarely make a sketch without being asked, says Prof. Dr. Johanna Schönherr from Osnabrück University. In addition, the quality of the drawing is crucial: "A sketch itself is not a sure-fire success," says the Professor of Mathematics Didactics. "Drawings only help with problem solving if pupils learn how to create and use them in a targeted manner and if they are able to accurately represent the objects and relationships of the task."
The transfer project at Osnabrück University, which builds on the findings of the DFG-funded project "ViMo - Visualizations in the processing of mathematical modelling tasks", initially provides for an analysis of current textbooks and teaching materials for lower secondary level. New, practice-oriented teaching units will then be developed. These contain specific instructions and exercises that focus on drawing sketches as a learning object. In addition to different learning levels, the use of digital tools will also be taken into account.
The materials developed will then be published in specialist journals and online platforms to ensure broad dissemination and offer teachers practical support.
Further information for the media:
Prof. Dr. Johanna Schönherr, Osnabrück University
Institute of Mathematics
E-mail: johanna.schoenherr@uni-osnabrueck.de
