Simulation and Gaming for Mathematical Education: Epistemology and Teaching Strategies Angela Piu, University of L’Aquila, Italy Cesare Fregola, Roma Tre University, Italy Information Science reference Hershey • New York Director of Editorial Content: Director of Book Publications: Acquisitions Editor: Development Editor: Publishing Assistant: Typesetter: Production Editor: Cover Design: Kristin Klinger Julia Mosemann Lindsay Johnston Julia Mosemann Casey Conapitski Casey Conapitski Jamie Snavely Lisa Tosheff Published in the United States of America by Information Science Reference (an imprint of IGI Global) 701 E. Chocolate Avenue, Hershey PA 17033 Tel: 717-533-8845 Fax: 717-533-8661 E-mail:
[email protected] Web site: http://www.igi-global.com Copyright © 2011 by IGI Global. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or distributed in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, without written permission from the publisher. Product or company names used in this set are for identification purposes only. Inclusion of the names of the products or companies does not indicate a claim of ownership by IGI Global of the trademark or registered trademark. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Simulation and gaming for mathematical education : epistemology and teaching strategies / Angela Piu and Cesare Fregola, editors. p. cm. Summary: “This book proposes simulation games supported by the most recent discoveries and advances in theories of learning research, and gears operational decisions toward the development of an integrated system for the teaching of mathematics in primary schools”--Provided by publisher. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-1-60566-930-4 (hardcover) -- ISBN 978-1-60566-931-1 (ebook) 1. Mathematics--Study and teaching (Primary)--Simulation games. 2. Simulation games in education. I. Piu, Angela, 1971- II. Fregola, Cesare. QA135.6.S564 2010 372.7--dc22 British Cataloguing in Publication Data A Cataloguing in Publication record for this book is available from the British Library. All work contributed to this book is new, previously-unpublished material. The views expressed in this book are those of the authors, but not necessarily of the publisher. Table of Contents Preface ............................................................................................................... viii Section 1: The Teaching and Learning of Mathematics and the Ontology of Simulation Games Chapter 1 Epistemological Framework and Mathematical Learning.............................. 1 Cesare Fregola, Roma Tre University, Italy Introduction............................................................................................................ 1 Learning Needs Reviewed from the Perspective of Virtual Anthropology............. 2 A Glance at the Literature...................................................................................... 4 Plurality of Approaches in Research and Mathematics Education....................... 6 But are the Mathematical