Handling errors as they arise in whole-class interactions

Abstract

There has been a long history of research into errors and their role in the teaching and learning of mathematics. This research has led to a change to pedagogical recommendations from avoiding errors to explicitly using them in lessons. In this study, 22 mathematics lessons were video-recorded and transcribed. A conversation analytic (CA) approach was then taken to examine how mathematical errors are treated by teachers and students when they arise in interaction. Despite pedagogical recommendations, in these interactions, errors continue to be predominantly treated as something to avoid. There is a tension between the affective aspects of managing errors in interactions and the cognitive aspects. Close examination of classroom interactions enable us to see how these tensions are managed both by teachers and students.

Keywords:

• errors
• conversation analysis
• classroom interaction

Notes

1 In the data for this study the interactions largely have the structure of turn-taking described by McHoul and the structure only differs occasionally in one of the teacher's lessons as illustrated in Extract 2, where students do self-select to speak rather than waiting for nomination from the teacher.

2 Jefferson Transcription System

The transcription system uses standard punctuation marks (comma, stop, question mark); however, in the system they mark intonation rather than syntax.

Table