Developing Students’ Mathematical Thinking and Algorithmic Culture in IT Classes

Report published in the Proceedings of the National Conference on "Education in the Information Society", Plovdiv, May, 2012

National curriculum IT classes in Bulgarian schools put specific demands before students, teachers, and educators. The many facets of IT allow embedding some amusing mathematical problems as a subject of class projects and discussions. Dynamic visualization of such problems and varying their numerical data provide their “on click” simulation. When possible to be implemented, this approach creates inquiry-based learning environment which boosts students’ mathematical thinking, inventiveness, and exploratory spirit. Recently mathematics and IT classes have become the major places to set up mathematical literacy and algorithmic culture of Bulgarian students. Modeling witty mathematical problems by dynamic geometry software supports that process both in an effective and attractive way.

Association for the Development of the Information Society, Institute of Mathematics and Informatics Bulgarian Academy of Sciences