A Research On Mathematical Symbol Sense Of Hainan Junior High School Students

Symbol sense is proposed as one of the ten core concepts in the “Compulsory education mathematics curriculum standard” promulgated in 2011. This shows the importance of developing students’ symbol sense in mathematical education.In the dissertation, we investigate the symbol sense of Hainan junior high school students by self-compiling questionnaire and interviewing. First, the symbol sense is divided into three aspects based on curriculum standards and related information, namely the understanding of symbol meanings, symbols representation of mathematical objects, the symbol “operation”sense based on computation and reasoning. In the study, the writer focuses on the following questions: current situation of the symbol sense of junior high school students; the gender differences in symbol sense of junior high school students; teachers’ opinions on symbol sense and their symbol teaching.The investigation shows that:(1) The junior high school students’ ability of symbol sense is far from satisfactory. In terms of the understanding of symbol meanings, associations of most of students are single. This belongs to the easier level to associate, namely the direct mathematical concepts that the symbols represent; In terms of symbolic representations of mathematical objects, the main problems include mean unmatched, inaccurate expressions,lack of thoughtfulness and the like; In terms of symbol operation, their ability at calculation is poor with high error rate, and even they can’t translate between the text language and symbolic language and so on.(2) There are no significant sexual differences in symbol sense and the three aspects mentioned above.(3) Teachers have certain understanding to the symbol sense, also have their own views on the symbol teaching, but their views are not comprehensive, and the teachers don’t have enough attention on the symbol sense.Basing on the survey, the author tries to put forward the following suggestions:increasing the interest of symbol teaching, paying attention to the understanding of symbol meanings, strengthening the ability to use symbols for accurate operation, paying attention to the translation between the text language and symbolic language, in order to promote the symbol teaching.