Ritual Procedures while Solving Tasks in Algebraic Context in Pre-Service Mathematics TeachersIn a research about symbol sense (ARCAVI, 1994, 2007) in Pre-Service Mathematics Teachers that were studying the last year to become Mathematics Teachers, we detected the presence of ritual procedures (VINNER, 2000) while solving algebraic tasks. During the analysis of the answers to the applied questionnaire, we observed that some of the students solved the same exercise using two different procedures. After obtaining the same answer by the second method as the one obtained by the first method, they were ready to give an answer. We will show some examples of this phenomenon and notice that by using a ritual procedure the student feels confident that his/her resolution is right. Moreover, we will see this phenomenon is linked to classroom practices and does not reveal meaningful learning of algebra.
Keywords:
Algebra; Pre-Service Mathematics Teachers; Ritual Procedure; Symbol Sense
