Comparative study and evaluation of dominant external representational systems in mathematics education
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Abstract
In this theoretical study, initially, we propose and argue in favour of sub-dividing the external representations into the following two major categories: the self-constructed external representations and the hetero-constructed external representations. We then link this distinction to the general meaning of representations. Some researchers mistakenly use representational mode, representational method and representational system as synonymous or identical concepts thus often confusing. This is the reason why we put effort in outlining the ‘fluid’ conceptual boundaries of these concepts by highlighting the relation between them. Hence, we outline and compare the dominant categorisations of external representations proposed by various researchers while examining the necessity for their improvement and their extension.
Keywords: External representational systems, self-constructed external representations, hetero-constructed external representations, representational element, representational mode, representational method, representational code.
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