Pupils’ Drawings as a Research Tool in Mathematical Problem-Solving Lessons

Firstly, we describe a research project on problem-solving implemented in 2010–2013 in the Department of Teacher Education at the University of Helsinki. But we are especially concentrating on the results of one background study in the project—pupils’ drawings in a mathematics lesson. Pupils’ drawings seem to be a powerful method to gather information from small children. With the aid of drawings, one may investigate different topics in children’s thinking. Here, we focus on pupils’ and teachers’ communication, the emotional atmosphere of the class and the types of work used in class. The drawing studies offer three different channels to pupils’ conceptions in problem-solving.

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