Bridging the gap between mathematical conjecture and proof through computer-supported cognitive conflicts

In many mathematical problems, students can feel that the universalityof a conjecture or a formula is validated by their experimentand experience. In contrast, students generally do not feelthat deductive explanations strengthen their conviction thata conjecture or a formula is true. In order to cope up withstudents’ conviction based only on empirical experienceand to create a need for deductive explanations, we developeda problem-solving activity with technology support intendedto cause cognitive conflict. In this article, we describe theprocess conducted for this activity that led students to contradictionsbetween conjectures and findings. The teacher could create familiarproblem-solving situations and use students’ naïveinductive approaches to make students think mathematically andestablish the necessity for proof via computer support.