Abstract
In this paper we describe a touchscreen application called TouchCounts, which is designed to support the development of number sense in the early years. We first provide an a priori analysis of its affordances. Then, using Sfard’s communicational approach, augmented by a focus both on the role of the body—particularly the fingers and hands—and emotions in the mathematical communication of a child, a teacher and a touchscreen device, we show how two 5-year-old girls learn about counting and adding.
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A similar project has been undertaken by Ladel and Kortenkamp (2011), who have developed a multi-touch-table environment in which children can place tokens on the table using their fingers.
We are well aware of the fact that “mischievous smile” is a highly interpretative way of describing an emotional expression. However, this was the best emotion-word that we could find to describe the particular expression that we saw on Katy’s face.
In this earlier version of TouchCounts, the sum of pinched herds was not given orally. However, this is no longer the case.
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Sinclair, N., Heyd-Metzuyanim, E. Learning Number with TouchCounts: The Role of Emotions and the Body in Mathematical Communication. Tech Know Learn 19, 81–99 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10758-014-9212-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10758-014-9212-x