Resumen
Se ha documentado que estudiantes de primaria elaboran representaciones no convencionales para comprender actividades que involucran el pensamiento algebraico y expresar generalizaciones. Sin embargo, se desconoce el tipo de representación que elaboran estudiantes de niveles educativos avanzados y cómo cambia a medida que se transita de actividades de aritmética generalizada a otras de pensamiento funcional. Se analizaron las representaciones elaboradas por estudiantes de posgrado en Matemática Educativa. Los principales resultados son: réplica de los tipos de representación reportados en la literatura; identificación de un nuevo tipo de representación, “eje coordenado”; uso de conceptos matemáticos más sofisticados; y la identificación de algunos errores reportados en la literatura. Los resultados se discuten en función de la manipulación de los tipos de representación identificados, resaltando el significado de los conceptos empleados en la representación.
External representations in graduate students´ algebraic thinking: analyzing uses and meanings
Abstract
The literature of Algebraic Thinking has documented that elementary students use unconventional representations to understand activities and express generalizations. However, the nature of the representations that graduate students make and how these representations change across general arithmetic and functional thinking remain unknown. We analyze the external representations developed by graduate students in Educational Mathematics. Between the main results, the same kind of representations were replicated, a new type was identified, and the use of more sophisticated mathematical concepts was demonstrated. We also found that graduate students made similar mistakes to those reported by elementary students. We discussed the results, considering the manipulation of the representations, as they illustrate the mathematical concepts.
Citas
Alibali, M. W., Knuth, E. J., Hattikudur, S., Mcneil, N. M., & Stephens, A. C. (2007). A Longitudinal Examination of Middle School Students’ Understanding of the Equal Sign and Equivalent Equations. Mathematical Thinking and Learning, 9(3), 221-247. https://doi.org/10.1080/10986060701360902
Ayala-Altamirano, C., & Molina, M. (2020). Meanings Attributed to Letters in Functional Contexts by Primary School Students. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 18(7), 1271-1291. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10763-019-10012-5
Ayala-Altamirano, C., Pinto, E., Molina, M., & Cañadas, M. C. (2022). Interacting with Indeterminate Quantities through Arithmetic Word Problems: Tasks to Promote Algebraic Thinking at Elementary School. Mathematics, 10(13), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.3390/math10132229
Baroody, A. J., & Ginsburg, H. P. (1983). The Effects of Instruction on Children’s Understanding of the “Equals” Sign. The Elementary School Journal, 84(2), 198-212. http://www.jstor.org/stable/1001311
Behr, M., Erlwanger, S., & Nichols, E. (1980). How Children View the Equals Sign. Mathematics Teaching, 92, 13-16. https://gpc-maths.org/data/documents/doks/behr-howequal.pdf
Blanton, M. L., & Kaput, J. J. (2005). Characterizing a Classroom Practice That Promotes Algebraic Reasoning Author(s). Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, 36(5), 412–446. https://www.jstor.org/stable/30034944
Blanton, M. L., & Kaput, J. J. (2011). Functional Thinking as a Route Into Algebra in the Elementary Grades. En J. Cai & E. Knuth (Eds.), Early algebraization: A global dialogue from multiple perspectives (pp. 5-23). Springer Berlin Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-17735-4_2
Blanton, M., Brizuela, B. M., Gardiner, A. M., Sawrey, K., & Newman-Owens, A. (2015). A learning trajectory in 6-year-olds’ thinking about generalizing functional relationships. Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, 46(5), 511-558. https://doi.org/10.5951/jresematheduc.46.5.0511
Blanton, M., Stephens, A., Knuth, E., Murphy, A., Isler, I., & Kim, J.-S. (2015). The development of children’s algebraic thinking: the impact of a comprehensive early algebra intervention in third grade. Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, 46(1), 39-87. https://doi.org/10.5951/jresematheduc.46.1.0039
Brizuela, B. M., Blanton, M., Sawrey, K., Newman-Owens, A., & Gardiner, A. M. (2015). Children’s use of variables and variable notation to represent their algebraic ideas. Mathematical Thinking and Learning, 17(1), 34-63. https://doi.org/10.1080/10986065.2015.981939
Brizuela, B. M., & Earnest, D. (2008). Multiple notational systems and algebraic understandings: The case of the “best deal” problem. En J. J. Kaput, D. W. Carraher & M. L. Blanton (Eds.), Algebra in the early grades (pp. 273-302). Routledge.
Brizuela, B. M., & Schliemann, A. D. (2004). Ten-year-old students solving linear equations. For the Learning of Mathematics, 24(2), 33-40. https://www.jstor.org/stable/40248456
Cai, J., & Knuth, E. J. (Eds.). (2011). Early algebraization: A Global Dialogue from Multiple Perspectives (Advances in mathematics education). Springer.
Capraro, M. M., & Joffrion, H. (2006). Algebraic equations: Can middle-school students meaningfully translate from words to mathematical symbols? Reading Psychology, 27(2-3), 147-164. https://doi.org/10.1080/02702710600642467
Carraher, D. W., Schliemann, A. D., & Brizuela, B. M. (2000, 7-10 de octubre). Early algebra, early arithmetic: Treating operations as functions [Conferencia plenaria]. XXII Meeting of the Psychology of Mathematics Education, North America Chapter, Tucson, Arizona.
Carraher, D. W., Schliemann, A. D., Brizuela, B. M., & Earnest, D. (2006). Arithmetic and algebra in early mathematics education. Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, 37(2), 87-115. https://www.jstor.org/stable/30034843
Chimoni, M., Pitta-Pantazi, D., & Christou, C. (2018). Examining early algebraic thinking: insights from empirical data. Educational Studies in Mathematics, 98(1), 57-76. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10649-018-9803-x
Chimoni, M., Pitta-Pantazi, D., & Christou, C. (2021). The impact of two different types of instructional tasks on students’ development of early algebraic thinking (El impacto de dos tipos diferentes de tareas instruccionales en el desarrollo del pensamiento algebraico temprano de los estudiantes). Journal for the study of education and development: Infancia y Aprendizaje, 44(3), 503-552. https://doi.org/10.1080/02103702.2020.1778280
Christou, K. P., & Vosniadou, S. (2012). What Kinds of Numbers Do Students Assign to Literal Symbols? Aspects of the Transition from Arithmetic to Algebra. Mathematical Thinking and Learning, 14(1), 1-27. https://doi.org/10.1080/10986065.2012.625074
Cortes, A., Vergnand, G., & Kavafian, N. (1990). From arithmetic to algebra: negotiating a jump in the learning process. En G. Booker, P. Cobb & T. de Mendicuti (Eds.), Proceedings. Fourteenth PME Conference. Whit the North American Chapter Twelfth PME-NA Conference (Vol. 2, pp. 27-34). Psychology of Mathematics Education. http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED411138.pdf
Cox, R., & Brna, P. (1994). Supporting the use of external representations in problem solving: the need for flexible learning environments. Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Education, 102, 1-46.
Davydov, V. V. (1962). An experiment in introducing elements of algebra in elementary school. Soviet Education, 5(1), 27-37. https://doi.org/10.2753/RES1060-9393050127
Dettori, G., & Lemut, E. (1995). External Representations in Arithmetic Problem Solving. En R. Sutherland & J. Mason (Eds.), Exploiting Mental Imagery with Computers in Mathematics Education (Vol. 138, pp. 20-33). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-57771-0_2
Donovan, A. M., Stephens, A., Alapala, B., Monday, A., Szkudlarek, E., Alibali, M. W., & Matthews, P. G. (2022). Is a substitute the same? Learning from lessons centering different relational conceptions of the equal sign. ZDM - Mathematics Education, 54(6), 1199-1213. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11858-022-01405-y
Duval, R. (2017). Understanding the Mathematical Way of Thinking - The Registers of Semiotic Representations. Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56910-9
Eudave, D. E. (1998). El aprendizaje del álgebra y sus dificultades. Una exploración a través del estudio de errores. Caleidoscopio - Revista Semestral de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades, 2(4), 7-52. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.33064/4crscsh269
Filloy, E., & Rojano, T. (1989). Solving equations: The transition from arithmetic to algebra. For the Learning of Mathematics, 9(2), 19-25. https://flm-journal.org/Articles/3DA2C5DE336DFD448BCF339B51168E.pdf
Filloy, E., Rojano, T., & Solares, A. (2010). Problems Dealing with Unknown Quantities and Two Different Levels of Representing Unknowns. Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, 41(1), 52-80. http://www.jstor.org/stable/40539364
Fuchs, L. S., Compton, D. L., Fuchs, D., Powell, S. R., Schumacher, R. F., Hamlett, C. L., Vernier, E., Namkung, J. M., & Vukovic, R. K. (2012). Contributions of domain-general cognitive resources and different forms of arithmetic development to pre-algebraic knowledge. Developmental Psychology, 48(5), 1315-1326. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0027475
Goldin, G. A. (1998). Representational systems, learning, and problem solving in mathematics. The Journal of Mathematical Behavior, 17(2), 137-165. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0364-0213(99)80056-1
Guerrero-Morales, L., & de Losada, M. F. (2023). Una mirada a la teoría de representaciones semióticas de Duval desde el pensamiento manifestado por participantes en las olimpiadas colombianas de matemáticas. South Florida Journal of Development, 4(3), 1433-1453. https://doi.org/10.46932/sfjdv4n3-030
Hattikudur, S., & Alibali, M. W. (2010). Learning about the equal sign: Does comparing with inequality symbols help? Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 107(1), 15-30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2010.03.004
Karmiloff-Smith, A. (1990). Constraints on representational change: Evidence from children´s drawing. Cognition, 34(1), 57-83. https://doi.org/10.1016/0010-0277(90)90031-E
Kaput, J. J. (2008). What is algebra? What is algebraic reasoning? En J. J. Kaput, D. W. Carraher & M. L. Blanton (Eds.), Algebra in the early grades (pp. 5-17). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates; National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
Kieran, C. (1981). Concepts associated with the equality symbol. Educational Studies in Mathematics, 12(3), 317-326. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00311062
Knuth, E. J., Stephens, A. C., McNeil, N. M., & Alibali, M. W. (2006). Does Understanding the Equal Sign Matter? Evidence from Solving Equations. Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, 37(4), 297-312. http://www.jstor.org/stable/30034852
McNeil, N. M., Hornburg, C. B., Brletic-Shipley, H., & Matthews, J. M. (2019). Improving children’s understanding of mathematical equivalence via an intervention that goes beyond nontraditional arithmetic practice. Journal of Educational Psychology, 111(6), 1023-1044. https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0000337
Medrano, A., Xolocotzin, U., & Flores-Macías, R. del C. (2022). Un análisis de la producción de representaciones al solucionar problemas de algebra temprana en estudiantes de primaria. Educación Matemática, 34(3), 10-41. https://doi.org/10.24844/EM3403.01
Merino, E., Cañadas, M. C., & Molina, M. (2013). Uso de representaciones y patrones por alumnos de quinto de educación primaria en una tarea de generalización. Educación Matemática en la Infancia, 2(1), 24-40. https://doi.org/10.24197/edmain.1.2013.24-40
Molina, M. (2009). Una propuesta de cambio curricular: Integración del pensamiento algebraico en educación primaria. PNA, 3(3), 135-156. https://revistaseug.ugr.es/index.php/pna/article/view/6186/5503
Molina, M. (2011). Integración del pensamiento algebraico en la educación básica. Un experimento de enseñanza con alumnos de 8-9 años. En M. H. Martinho, R. A. Tomás, I. Vale & J. P. da Ponte (Eds.), Ensino e Aprendizagem da Álgebra. Actas do Encontro de Investigacao em Educacao Matemática. https://produccioncientifica.usal.es/documentos/652909a4a97f764c5a12ab93
Molina, M., & Ambrose, R. C. (2006). Fostering Relational Thinking while Negotiating the Meaning of the Equals Sign. Teaching Children Mathematics, 13(2), 111-117. https://doi.org/10.5951/tcm.13.2.0111
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. (2000). Principles and Standards for School Mathematics.
Piaget, J. (1969) Psicología y Pedagogía. Ariel.
Radford, L. (2011). Grade 2 Students’ Non-Symbolic Algebraic Thinking. En E. Cai Jinfa & E. Knuth (Eds.), Early Algebraization: A Global Dialogue from Multiple Perspectives (pp. 303-322). Springer Berlin Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-17735-4_17
Radford, L., & Puig, L. (2007). Syntaxis and meaning as sensuous, visual, historical form of algebraic thinking. Educational Studies in Mathematics, 66(2), 145-164. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10649-006-9024-6
Riadi, A., Atini, N. L., & Ferita, R. A. (2019). Thinking Skills of Junior High School Students Related to Gender. International Journal of Trends in Mathematics Education Research, 2(3), 112-115. https://doi.org/10.33122/ijtmer.v2i3.66
Schliemann, A. D., Carraher, D. W., & Brizuela, B. M. (2011). El carácter algebraico de la aritmética. Paidós.
Schmittau, J. (2005). The development of algebraic thinking. A vygotskian perspective. Zentralblatt für Didaktik der Mathematik, 37(1), 16-22. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02655893
Schnotz, W., & Bannert, M. (2003). Construction and interference in learning from multiple representation. Learning and instruction, 13(2), 141-156. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0959-4752(02)00017-8
Stephens, M., Day, L., & Horne, M. (2022). Key shifts in students’ capacity to generalise: a fundamental aspect of algebraic reasoning. En N. N. Fitzallen, C. Murphy, V. Hatisaru & N. Maher (Eds.), Key shifts in thinking in the development of mathematical reasoning: Proceedings of the 44th Annual Conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia (pp. 46-49). MERGA
Suwa, M., & Tversky, B. (2002). External representations contribute to the dynamic construction of ideas. En M. Hegarty, B. Meyer & N. H. Narayanan (Eds.), International Conference on Theory and Application of Diagrams (pp. 341-343). Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
TERC. (2004). Seeking patterns, building rules, algebraic thinking. EM Power.
Vergnaud, G. (1991). El niño, la matemática y la realidad: Problemas de la enseñanza de las Matemáticas en la escuela primaria. Trillas.
Vergnaud, G. (2009). The theory of conceptual fields. Human Development, 52(2), 83-94. https://doi.org/10.1159/000202727
Vygotsky, L. S. (1999). Pensamiento y lenguaje. En Obras Escogidas (Tomo 2, pp. 9-348). Visor.
Wahyuni, R., Herman, T., & Fatimah, S. (2022). Students’ Interpretation of the Algebraic Letters: The Case of the Early Year in Middle School. AIP Conference Proceedings, 2468(1), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0102659
Wahyuni, R., Herman, T., & Fatimah, S. (2023). Letters in Algebra as the Transition from Arithmetic Thinking to Algebraic Thinking. Mosharafa: Jurnal Pendidikan Matematika, 12(3), 441-452. https://doi.org/10.31980/mosharafa.v12i3.818
Zhang, J. (1997). The nature of external representations in problem solving. Cognitive Science. A Multidisciplinary Journal, 21(2), 179-217. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15516709cog2102_3
Zhang, J., & Norman, D. A. (1994). Representations in Distributed Cognitive Tasks. Cognitive Science. A Multidisciplinary Journal, 18(1), 87-122. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15516709cog1801_3

Esta obra está bajo una licencia internacional Creative Commons Atribución-NoComercial 4.0.
Derechos de autor 2026 Ana Medrano, Maythe García, Alma Ortega, Abraham Moreno, Yeli Rodríguez, Alfonso Rosario, Sindi Marcia

