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9 - Harnessing Our Hands to Teach Mathematics

How Gesture Can Be Used as a Teaching Tool in the Classroom

from Part II - Science and Math

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 February 2019

By
Elizabeth M. Wakefield  and
Susan Goldin-Meadow
Edited by
John Dunlosky  and
Katherine A. Rawson
John Dunlosky
Affiliation:
Kent State University, Ohio
Katherine A. Rawson
Affiliation:
Kent State University, Ohio
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Summary

Gestures are movements of the hands that can express ideas and often accompany speech. In this chapter, we review evidence that gesture is an excellent educational tool, particularly when teaching mathematics. We focus on naturalistic studies that establish gesture's relevance to classroom teaching, and laboratory studies that show that gestures promote learning when produced by students or teachers. We conclude this chapter with recommendations for best educational practices involving gesture and future directions for research.
Type
Chapter
Information
The Cambridge Handbook of Cognition and Education , pp. 209 - 234
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2019

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