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Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons

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Science and Mathematics Education

Faculty Publications

2010

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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Meaningful Distributed Instruction— Conceptual Previews For Symbolic Procedures, Edward C. Rathmell Jan 2010

Meaningful Distributed Instruction— Conceptual Previews For Symbolic Procedures, Edward C. Rathmell

Faculty Publications

Understanding a symbolic procedure means far more than “getting the right answer.” A mathematical symbolic procedure or written skill involves step-bystep thinking that leads from a computational problem to a solution. Memorizing this step-by-step procedure may enable a student to answer the problem, even answer it correctly. Yes, that is important, but understanding means much more.