Patterns and generalization: the influence of visual strategies

Abstract

This paper gives a description of an ongoing study focused on pattern exploration and generalization tasks and justifies that study with respect to the literature. It promises to make a contribution to appreciation of the ways in which visual strategies can be used to enhance and enrich learners’ experience of generalization. The main purpose is to analyse the strategies and difficulties presented by grade 6 students when solving these activities, along with the role played by visualization in their reasoning. Preliminary results indicate that, in general, students prefer analytic approaches over visual ones and that, among the group of students that are most successful, the majority chooses a mixed strategy.