Mahboubeh Nedaei has followed the PhD Programme at the Faculty of Engineering and Science, with Specialization in Mathematical Sciences, Scientific Field Mathematics Education.
- Trial lecture starts at 10:30
- Public defence starts at 12:30
Title of trial lecture: "What Can Eye-Tracking Reveal About Mathematical Thinking? Possibilities and Limitations in Mathematics Education Research"
Disputation chair: Ingvald Erfjord, Department for Mathematical Sciences
Assessment committee:
- First opponent: Professor Dr. Anselm Strohmaier, The Freiburg University of Education, Germany
- Second opponent: Professor Heidi Strømskag, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway
- Chair of Assessment Committee: Associate Professor Vegard Topphol, University of Agder
Supervisors in the doctoral work:
- Main supervisor: Professor Simon Goodchild, UiA (until March 2024 due to death)
- Main supervisor from March 2024: Associate Professor Shaista Kanwal, University of Agder
- Co-supervisor: Professor Roger Säljö, University of Gothenburg and UiA
Summary of thesis
Exploring the role of representations in undergraduate engineering students’ engagement with double integrals: A case study of using eye-tracking in mathematics learning research
Representations are central to communicating mathematical knowledge, and they are also central to mathematical thinking. This thesis reports on a research project that explores engineering students’ engagement with representations and provides insights into their learning of mathematics. The research adopts a qualitative case study approach and combines eye-tracking methodology with interviews and learning assessments to investigate students’ engagement while learning the concept of double integrals. Students’ eye movements were recorded while they studied a designed instructional document on double integrals. The eye-tracking data were analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively, and interview responses were used to triangulate and enrich the interpretation of students’ eye movement behaviours. Cognitive load theory and the theory of registers of semiotic representation were used as overarching theoretical frameworks to conceptualise students’ engagement with representations and guide the data analysis. The findings offer detailed insights into how nature and characteristics of representations, such as complexity, can shape students’ engagement when reading the double integral document. Furthermore, the thesis highlights methodological and conceptual challenges associated with analysing eye-tracking data, particularly in defining areas of interest when different representations are the focus of study.
What to do as an online audience member
The disputation is open to the public. To follow the trial lecture and the public defence online, register on Zoom.
We ask online audience members to join no earlier than 10 minutes in advance. After these times, you can leave and rejoin the meeting at any time.
Opponent ex auditorio:
Deadline for the public to pose questions is during the break between the two opponents. Questions ex auditorio can be submitted to Disputation Chair Ingvald Erfjord.
Contact person
- victoria.belous@uia.no
- Phone
- +47 38 14 23 46