A Qualitative Study of the Use of Content-Related Comics to Promote Student Participation in Mathematical Discourse in a Math I Support Class

<p>The purpose of this study is to contribute to existing research on classroom discourse by investigating whether a content-related comic that is closely linked to the learning task can stimulate mathematical discourse in a real high school classroom. To build a math-talk learning community and to analyze the effectiveness of content-related comics in eliciting student participation, I employed the combined theoretical frameworks consisting of a Hufferd-Ackles’ et al. (2004) math-talk learning community and Nathan and Knuth’s (2003) social and analytical scaffolding. The combined frameworks provided a multilevel analytical tool for studying classroom interactions. The results suggested that the content-related comic helped students to become more comfortable and independent in expressing their thinking during class discussion. Recommendation for practicing mathematics educators include: classroom teachers should be encouraged to partner with college level researchers to study mathematical discourse in the classroom, and pre-service and in-service teachers should learn and practice the skills and methods for successfully employing a whole-classroom discussion. Further research is needed to investigate the impact of content-related comic activity in a long term interaction with a more diverse population. </p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Education in Teacher Leadership (Ed.D)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Teacher Leadership for Learning

Year dc:date.available

2011

Author dc:creator

• Halimun, Jeni M.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dr. Mary Garner
• Dr. Amy Hillen
• Dr. Deborah Wallace

• analytical scaffolding
• classroom discourse
• content-related comics
• math-talk learning community
• participation
• social norms
• Science and Mathematics Education

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/etd/471

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu:etd-1472