Embodied and dis-embodied affordances in mathematics education

In this paper, we discuss a two-way mechanism for acquiring mathematical knowledge: dis-embodied-to-embodied and embodied-to-dis-embodied shifts. Shifting from an embodied representation to a dis-embodied representation enables mathematics learners to discover general rules and patterns that can be...

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Main Authors: Danyal Farsani, Omid Khatin-Zadeh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-02-01
Series:Frontiers in Education
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2025.1528755/full
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author Danyal Farsani
Omid Khatin-Zadeh
author_facet Danyal Farsani
Omid Khatin-Zadeh
author_sort Danyal Farsani
collection DOAJ
description In this paper, we discuss a two-way mechanism for acquiring mathematical knowledge: dis-embodied-to-embodied and embodied-to-dis-embodied shifts. Shifting from an embodied representation to a dis-embodied representation enables mathematics learners to discover general rules and patterns that can be applied to a wide range of mathematical problems, while shifting from a dis-embodied representation to an embodied representation allows mathematics learners to acquire a more graspable knowledge of mathematics. After discussing these two shifts in mode of processing, we describe a two-way mechanism through which a parallel employment of these two modes of thought allows mathematics learners to acquire a grounded and deep knowledge of mathematics. Therefore, any mathematics education program should engage learners in both modes of processing. Finally, we conclude that it is not possible to have an efficient education program by focusing on just one mode of mathematical thought.
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spelling doaj-art-6ef6af0d970c4fe0b4f5e537310d3c062025-08-20T03:00:50ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Education2504-284X2025-02-011010.3389/feduc.2025.15287551528755Embodied and dis-embodied affordances in mathematics educationDanyal Farsani0Omid Khatin-Zadeh1Department of Teacher Education, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, NorwaySchool of Foreign Languages, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, ChinaIn this paper, we discuss a two-way mechanism for acquiring mathematical knowledge: dis-embodied-to-embodied and embodied-to-dis-embodied shifts. Shifting from an embodied representation to a dis-embodied representation enables mathematics learners to discover general rules and patterns that can be applied to a wide range of mathematical problems, while shifting from a dis-embodied representation to an embodied representation allows mathematics learners to acquire a more graspable knowledge of mathematics. After discussing these two shifts in mode of processing, we describe a two-way mechanism through which a parallel employment of these two modes of thought allows mathematics learners to acquire a grounded and deep knowledge of mathematics. Therefore, any mathematics education program should engage learners in both modes of processing. Finally, we conclude that it is not possible to have an efficient education program by focusing on just one mode of mathematical thought.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2025.1528755/fulldis-embodied representationembodied representationmathematics educationaffordanceseducation program
spellingShingle Danyal Farsani
Omid Khatin-Zadeh
Embodied and dis-embodied affordances in mathematics education
Frontiers in Education
dis-embodied representation
embodied representation
mathematics education
affordances
education program
title Embodied and dis-embodied affordances in mathematics education
title_full Embodied and dis-embodied affordances in mathematics education
title_fullStr Embodied and dis-embodied affordances in mathematics education
title_full_unstemmed Embodied and dis-embodied affordances in mathematics education
title_short Embodied and dis-embodied affordances in mathematics education
title_sort embodied and dis embodied affordances in mathematics education
topic dis-embodied representation
embodied representation
mathematics education
affordances
education program
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2025.1528755/full
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