Sets, Subsets, and the Empty Set: Students’ Constructions and Mathematical Conventions

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Zazkis, R. & Gunn, C. (1997). Sets, Subsets, and the Empty Set: Students’ Constructions and Mathematical Conventions. Journal of Computers in Mathematics and Science Teaching, 16(1), 133-169. Charlottesville, VA: AACE.
Retrieved from http://www.editlib.org/p/20955.

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Journal Information

Journal of Computers in Mathematics and Science Teaching
ISSN 0731-9258
Volume 16, Issue 1, 1997
Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE)  Charlottesville, VA

More Information on JCMST

Authors

Rina Zazkis, Chris Gunn, Simon Fraser University, Canada

Abstract

This study investigates students' understanding of the basic concepts of introductory set theory: set, set element, cardinality, subset, and the empty set. The data was collected from a group of preservice elementary school teachers by means of written assessment, clinical interviews, and students' participation in a computer-based project. The project included experimentation with basic set concepts in an open computerbased environment with mathematical computer language ISETL. A constructivist-oriented framework was used in analyzing the data. The results reveal complexities in students' understanding, especially when set elements involved are sets themselves. Special attention is given to the description of students' difficulties with the concept of the empty set.

Keywords

• Students
• Computers

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