Learning by Understanding: The Role of Multiple Representations in Learning Algebra

Prealgebra students learned about functions in a unit that emphasized (a) representing problems in multiple formats, (b) anchoring learning in a meaningful thematic context, and (c) problem-solving processes in cooperative groups. In posttest results, treatment students were more successful in representing and solving a function word problem and were better at problem representation tasks such as translating word problems into tables and graphs than were comparison students. Similar results were found for students who spoke English as a second language.