Argumentation: Building Students’ Capacity for Reasoning Essential to Learning Mathematics and Sciences

In this article we present the results of a study focused on engaging students in argumentation to support their growth as mathematical learners, which in turn strengthens their science learning experiences. We identify five argumentation categories that promote the learning of argumentation skills and enrich mathematical reasoning at the undergraduate level. Using these categories, we present and discuss rich learning tasks that meaningfully engage students in mathematical argumentation. In addition, these argumentation tasks support the development of students’ communication and critical thinking skills - all essential to learning in partner disciplines. Finally, recognizing that collaboration with colleagues from other disciplines is crucial to understand and address learning objectives beyond mathematics, we also present lessons learned from our successful interdisciplinary collaborations.