Mathematical Assemblages Around Dynamic Aspects of Angle in Digital and Physical Space

Drawing upon constructionism and neo-materialist approaches on the role of physical activity and the human body in teaching and learning mathematics, this paper investigates the meanings constructed by students while collaboratively carrying out tasks focusing on the dynamic aspects of the concept of angle in the educational context of a 6th grade class of a public primary school in Greece. Paying particular attention to the specific material configurations at play, we try to analyse the construction processes through which angle was used both as a measure represented by a number and as a directed turn in the simulated 3D space of a digital tool that combines 3D Turtle Geometry and dynamic manipulation. Following a design-based research method, mathematical meanings are analysed as contingent assemblages involving gestures, embodied metaphors, navigation in virtual spaces, viewpoints, figural representations of 2D and 3D geometrical objects and ways of verbal and symbolic expression.