for the learning of mathematics

an international journal of mathematics education

Lisser Rye Ejersbo ,  Uri Leron ,  Abraham Arcavi - Vol. 34 Num. 3 (2014)
 Bridging intuitive and analytical thinking: four looks at the 2-glass puzzle

2-7
 ABSTRACT:

The observation that the human mind operates in two distinct thinking modes – intuitive and analytical – have occupied psychological and educational researchers for several decades now. Much of this research has focused on the explanatory power of intuitive thinking as source of errors and misconceptions, but in this article, in contrast, we view "intuition traps" as a powerful tool for new learning, and for working with students on bridging the gap between the two thinking modes. The bridging issues are presented via reflections on a virtual workshop (an abstracted version of several real ones), organized around the classical 2-glass puzzle.