Comparing the efficacy of dynamic vs. static visualisations in students’ characteristics of basic mental models of the derivative

Nguyen, Hoang; Greefrath, Gilbert

Abstract

In this study we examine the question of whether the two central basic mental models of the derivative “local rate of change” and “tangent slope” can be developed more effectively using dynamic or static visualisations after an intervention introducing the concept of the derivative. For this purpose, a questionnaire on these two basic mental models was completed by 11th grade students (N=218). The t-tests indicate that the “tangent slope” was developed significantly more effectively in the dynamic group than in the static group with a small effect size (d=.462); however, there was no difference regarding the “local rate of change“ when comparing the two groups.