International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education (PME)

Proceedings of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education · Volume 1

Coupling Representations for Sense-making of Sinusoidal Function Parameters: Constraining as a Resource?

Alessandra Boscolo, Silvia Funghi, Matteo Casale

LUMSA University of Rome

49th Annual Conference of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education, PME 2026Helsinki27 July 2026 - 1 August 2026pp. 211–218ISSN 2790-36482026Scopus conference code 336559
⬇ Download PDF

Abstract

We report a design-based case study on grade 11 students’ sense-making of sinusoidal parameters in a GeoGebra environment that dynamically couples the unit circle and the Cartesian graph. Drawing on Ainsworth’s DeFT framework, the coupling was designed to serve a constraining function while students predicted and justified graphs associated with transformed motions (e.g., phase shift, reversed rotation). Analyses of small-group discourse and interviews reveal that the constraint can serve as a resource, supporting students’ monitoring and self-correction; however, it can also be interpreted in locally plausible ways that hinder the intended coordination across representations.

Keywords

trigonometric functionsmultiple representationsDeFT framework

Recommended citation

Boscolo, A., Funghi, S., & Casale, M. (2026). Coupling Representations for Sense-making of Sinusoidal Function Parameters: Constraining as a Resource?. In Krzywacki H., Hähkiöniemi M., Haataja E., Hannula M.S., Hästö P. (Eds.), Proceedings of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education, Volume 1 (pp. 211–218). Psychology of Mathematics Education (PME). ISSN 2790-3648.
BibTeXRIS

← All PME 49 Research Reports