Does Click Matter? The Role of Text and Diagram on Geometric Reasoning and Gesture Production

• In Event: AERA Poster Session 9
  In Poster Session: Supporting Learning Through Fundamental Cognitive Processes

Abstract

We investigate the influence of definitions with diagrams on students’ mathematical reasoning for geometric insight and proof as well as on gesture production while proving geometric conjectures. Each conjecture included one technical math term hyperlinking to a definition formatted to be either all in words, or in words accompanied by a diagram to illustrate the meaning of the term. We find that clicking the hyperlink to look at the definition with a diagram was correlated with lower mathematical insight. It appears that complex geometric diagrams may yield detrimental effects on insight performance. We also find that definitions with diagrams can promote the production of representational gestures, which highlight interactions between available resources – in particular diagrams and gestures – in geometric reasoning.

Authors

• Fangli Xia, University of Wisconsin - Madison

• Mitchell J. Nathan, University of Wisconsin - Madison

• Michael I. Swart, University of Wisconsin - Madison

• Kelsey E. Schenck, University of Wisconsin - Madison

• Oh Hoon Kwon, University of Wisconsin - Madison