Nonlinear learning of linear algebra

Students find difficulty in learning linear algebra because of the abstraction and formalism associated with concepts such as vector space, linear independence, rank and invertible matrices. Learning the necessary procedures becomes insufficient, and imitating worked examples does not guarantee the...

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Main Author: Hamdan, May (author)
Format: article
Published: 2016
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10725/3644
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00207390500084898
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00207390500084898
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author Hamdan, May
author_facet Hamdan, May
author_role author
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Hamdan, May
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2016-04-25T10:47:29Z
2016-04-25T10:47:29Z
2016-04-25
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv 0020-739X
http://hdl.handle.net/10725/3644
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00207390500084898
Hamdan, M. (2005). Nonlinear learning of linear algebra: Active learning through journal writing. International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, 36(6), 607-615.
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00207390500084898
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv en
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology
dc.rights.*.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Nonlinear learning of linear algebra
Active learning through journal writing
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv Article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
info:eu-repo/semantics/article
description Students find difficulty in learning linear algebra because of the abstraction and formalism associated with concepts such as vector space, linear independence, rank and invertible matrices. Learning the necessary procedures becomes insufficient, and imitating worked examples does not guarantee the maturity level necessary for understanding these concepts. Instructors who seriously consider education reform look for teaching modes that induce active learning; the author resorted to journal writing in the particular context of coordinating between the different definitions and theorems related to the invertibility of a matrix: students were required to write about the various modes of representing invertible matrices, trying to guide them so as not to confuse the object with its representation, a notion referred to by Dorier as cognitive flexibility. As an auxiliary result, learners were observed in the process of building the construct of invertible matrices. The topic of invertible matrices was chosen because it appears that it weaves through the material, and plays the role of a unifier concept. In their final draft, many journals culminated into a student personal paper, entitled ‘Many ways to show invertibility: how to choose the most fit method?' Above all, the project helped students reclaim their intuition and common sense about mathematics.
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
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id LAURepo_a1f18af014d296d328df7a8a540780ee
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Hamdan, M. (2005). Nonlinear learning of linear algebra: Active learning through journal writing. International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, 36(6), 607-615.
language_invalid_str_mv en
network_acronym_str LAURepo
network_name_str Lebanese American University repository
oai_identifier_str oai:laur.lau.edu.lb:10725/3644
publishDate 2016
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spelling Nonlinear learning of linear algebraActive learning through journal writingHamdan, MayStudents find difficulty in learning linear algebra because of the abstraction and formalism associated with concepts such as vector space, linear independence, rank and invertible matrices. Learning the necessary procedures becomes insufficient, and imitating worked examples does not guarantee the maturity level necessary for understanding these concepts. Instructors who seriously consider education reform look for teaching modes that induce active learning; the author resorted to journal writing in the particular context of coordinating between the different definitions and theorems related to the invertibility of a matrix: students were required to write about the various modes of representing invertible matrices, trying to guide them so as not to confuse the object with its representation, a notion referred to by Dorier as cognitive flexibility. As an auxiliary result, learners were observed in the process of building the construct of invertible matrices. The topic of invertible matrices was chosen because it appears that it weaves through the material, and plays the role of a unifier concept. In their final draft, many journals culminated into a student personal paper, entitled ‘Many ways to show invertibility: how to choose the most fit method?' Above all, the project helped students reclaim their intuition and common sense about mathematics.PublishedN/A2016-04-25T10:47:29Z2016-04-25T10:47:29Z2016-04-25Articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/article0020-739Xhttp://hdl.handle.net/10725/3644http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00207390500084898Hamdan, M. (2005). Nonlinear learning of linear algebra: Active learning through journal writing. International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, 36(6), 607-615.http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00207390500084898enInternational Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technologyinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:laur.lau.edu.lb:10725/36442019-03-05T14:03:59Z
spellingShingle Nonlinear learning of linear algebra
Hamdan, May
status_str publishedVersion
title Nonlinear learning of linear algebra
title_full Nonlinear learning of linear algebra
title_fullStr Nonlinear learning of linear algebra
title_full_unstemmed Nonlinear learning of linear algebra
title_short Nonlinear learning of linear algebra
title_sort Nonlinear learning of linear algebra
url http://hdl.handle.net/10725/3644
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00207390500084898
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00207390500084898