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APOS Theory

Constructivist and Situated Learning Theories

In mathematics education, APOS Theory is a framework describing how mathematical concepts are learned, developed by Ed Dubinsky and others and grounded in Jean Piaget's notion of reflective abstraction. The name APOS stands for actions, processes, objects and schemas, the four main mental structures the theory holds are involved in mathematical understanding, and the theory takes a constructivist view of mathematical learning. Classroom implementations of APOS Theory typically use the ACE Teaching Cycle, a pedagogical strategy built from three chronological components, activities, classroom discussion and exercises, often supported by mathematical programming languages, most commonly ISETL.

Facts
Core Claim
Mathematical understanding develops through four mental structures, Actions, Processes, Objects and Schemas, as a learner moves from explicit step by step actions to internalized processes, encapsulates those processes into mental objects, and organizes objects and processes into schemas. 2
Classification
Education Level
All Levels 1
Connections

In Approach

Source Wikipedia: APOS Theory
Sources
1. APOS Theory (Wikipedia)
In mathematics education, APOS Theory is a framework of how mathematical concepts are learnedView the Source
2. Wikipedia: APOS Theory
Wikimedia Foundation
  • Wikipedia lead paragraph, sentence naming Dubinsky and Piaget's reflective abstraction
    APOS Theory was developed by Ed Dubinsky and others and is based on Jean Piaget's notion of reflective abstraction.
  • In Approach: Constructivism, Lead section
    APOS Theory takes a constructivist view towards mathematical learning.
View the Source
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