Constructing Dynamic Triangles Together

Rational thinking as exemplified in mathematical cognition is immensely important in the modern world. This book documents how a group of three eighth-grade girls developed specific group practices typical of such thinking in an online educational experience. A longitudinal case study tracks the team through eight hour-long sessions following the students'' meaning-making processes through their mutual chat responses preserved in computer logs coordinated with their geometric actions. The examination of data focuses on key areas of the team''s development: its effective team collaboration its productive mathematical discourse its enacted use of dynamic-geometry tools and its ability to identify and construct dynamic-geometry dependencies. This detailed study of group cognition serves as a paradigmatic example of computer-supported collaborative learning incorporating a unique model of human-computer interaction analysis applied to the use of innovative educational technology. A valuable resource for researchers instructors and students alike it offers concrete suggestions for improving educational practice.