Categorizing Students' Difficulties with Mathematical Proofs: Developing a Model of the Structure of Proof Construction

Abstract

Studies have shown that proof construction is a challenging task for students at all levels. The purposes of my study were to examine students' difficulties with proof construction and to explore a practical method to help them overcome their difficulties. I created a model of the structure of proof construction. The model was useful in explaining students' difficulties and producing metacognitive knowledge for proof construction in the form of algorithm.