A Study On Multi-representations In 4-6 Years Old Children's Mathematics Cognition

The purpose of this study is to investigate the developmental characteristics and trends of multi-representations in 4-6 year-old children's mathematics cognition. Taking number number operation and pattern as the starting point, use individual interviews to investigate the developmental characteristics,gender differences and relationship between them. A sample of 120 children aged 4-6 from two ordinary kindergartens in Shanghai (60 children in each grade, evenly divided between boys and girls). Descriptive statistics,MANVOA and chi-square test were used to analyze the characteristics,trends and contributing factors of 4-6 year-old children's development of multi-representation in mathematics cognition. Correlation analysis was used to examine the relationship between the number of representation forms children used and its representation level in number operation multi-representation. The relationships among 4-6 year-old children's development of multi-representation in number,number operation,pattern and the educational value are also discussed.The major findings of this study were as follows:1,The children aged 4 to 6 years have developed initial multi-representation ability in number, number operation and pattern in the development of mathematics cognitive.2,The children between 4 to 6 years have age difference in the number of the representation forms they used in the multi-representation tasks in number.3,The children between 4 to 6 years have significant age in the development of multi-representation in number operation. With the age, the number of the representation forms children used also increase.4,With the age,4-6 year-old children's multi-representation levels increase. Significant positive correlation emerged between their multi-representation levels in number operation and the number of the representation forms they used.5,No significant age or gender differences were found between the development of 4-6 year-old children's multi-representation in pattern. But the children between 4 to 6 years have age difference in the number of the representation forms they used in the multi-representation tasks in pattern. With the age, the numbers of the representation forms children used increase.6,Children aged from 4 to 6 tend to use the real-world situations and manipulative aids which both were descriptive representations.7,Significant positive correlation emerged between the 4-6 year-old children's multi-representation abilities in number and in number operation. Children's multi-representation abilities in number operation and in pattern also have a certain correlation.