Designing a Learning Environment to Promote Math Discourse

Stahl, G. (2012a). Designing a learning environment for promoting math discourse. Paper presented at the 12th International Conference on Mathematical Education.

ABSTRACT: 

Mathematics education in the future faces enormous opportunities from the availability of ubiquitous digital networks, from innovative educational approaches based on theories of collaborative learning and from rich resources for interactive, online, dynamic math exploration.

The fact that more and more teachers and students are learning online—with distance education, online masters programs, home schooling, online high schools, etc.—makes the incorporation of virtual collaborative learning environments a natural trend.

This paper reports on the design of a virtual learning environment that integrates synchronous and asynchronous media with an innovative multi-user version of a dynamic math visualization and exploration toolbox. This VMTGeoGebra environment is designed to support the production of significant math discourse.