Harry Potter arithmetic

Exercises in arithmetic based on the 'money' used in the first book in the Harry Potter series are provided.

Is proof dead in the age of computers?

Some knowledge of what it means to construct a proof is an extremely important part of mathematics. All mathematics teachers and students should have some exposure to the ideas of proof and proving. This paper deals with the issue of creating proofs in mathematics problems.

Who's been sitting in my chair?

A photograph of an unusually large sculpture is used to generate questions to stimulate mathematical thinking.

Spatial thinking processes employed by primary school students engaged in mathematical problem solving

This thesis describes changes in the spatial thinking of Year 2 and Year 4 students who participated in a six-week long spatio-mathematical program. The main investigation, which contained quantitative and qualitative components, was designed to answer questions which were identified in a comprehensive review of pertinent literatures dealing with (a) young children's development of spatial concepts and skills, (b) how students solve problems and learn in different types of classrooms, and (c) the special roles of visual imagery, equipment, and classroom discourse in spatial problem solving. The quantitative investigation into the effects of a two-dimensional spatial program used a matched-group experimental design. Parallel forms of a specially developed spatio-mathematical group test were administered on three occasions—before, immediately after, and six to eight weeks after the spatial program. The test contained items requiring spatial thinking about two-dimensional space and other items requiring transfer to thinking about three-dimensional space. The results of the experimental group were compared with those of a ‘control’ group who were involved in number problem-solving activities. The investigation took into account gender and year at school. In addition, the effects of different classroom organisations on spatial thinking were investigated~one group worked mainly individually and the other group in small cooperative groups. The study found that improvements in scores on the delayed posttest of two-dimensional spatial thinking by students who were engaged in the spatial learning experiences were statistically significantly greater than those of the control group when pretest scores were used as covariates. Gender was the only variable to show an effect on the three-dimensional delayed posttest. The study also attempted to explain how improvements in, spatial thinking occurred. The qualitative component of the study involved students in different contexts. Students were video-taped as they worked, and much observational and interview data were obtained and analysed to develop categories which were described and inter-related in a model of children's responsiveness to spatial problem-solving experiences. The model and the details of children's thinking were related to literatures on visual imagery, selective attention, representation, and concept construction.

Effect of social background on the development of probabilistic concepts

This research explores how the social backgrounds of a group of students contributed to their intuitive knowledge in probabilistic reasoning, and influenced their processing of the associated mathematics. A group of Year 11 students who came from families for whom the phenomenon of track gambling formed an important part of their cultural background was identified. Another group consisting of students in the same mathematics course (Year 11 Maths in Society) but from families for whom the phenomenon of gambling in any form was totally absent from their social backgrounds was identified. Twenty students were selected from each group. The research employed a qualitative methodology in which a phenomenographic approach was used to investigate the qualitatively different ways in which individuals within the two groups thought about concepts involving probabilistic reasoning, and processed the related mathematical skills and concepts. The cognitive processes involved in the applications of probabilistic and related mathematical concepts in a variety of both gambling and non-gambling situations were studied in order to determine whether this culturally based knowledge could be viewed as a type of ‘ethnomathematics.’ Data were obtained through individual structured interviews which enabled patterns of reasoning to be compared and contrasted. Analyses of these data enabled intuitive mathematical understandings possessed by the gamblers not only to be identified, but also to be linked with their social backgrounds. Also differences between how individuals in the two groups processed probabilistic and associated mathematical knowledge were determined. This research complements and extends existing knowledge and theories related to culturally-based mathematical knowledge. Implications for further research, for classroom teaching, and for curriculum development in the study of probability in senior secondary mathematics classes are discussed.

TPACK (Conhecimento pedagógico de conteúdo tecnológico): relação com as diferentes gerações de professores de matemática

Pós-graduação em Educação para a Ciência - FC

Formação continuada de professores de matemática e suas percepções sobre as contribuições de um curso

Pós-graduação em Educação Matemática - IGCE

O papel do vídeo nas aulas multimodais de matemática aplicada: uma análise do ponto de vista dos alunos

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

O uso do computador em escolas públicas estaduais da cidade de Limeira/SP

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

As inter-relações das tecnologias de informação e de comunicação com alguns conceitos da teoria de Davydov para o ensino de matemática

Pós-graduação em Educação Matemática - IGCE

Experiências educativas e aula de matemática: enquanto a aula de matemática (não) acontece o que acontece?

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Professores de matemática e a educação inclusiva: análises de memórias de formação

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

A produção de significados durante e processo de enisno-aprendizagem-avaliação de equações polinomiais

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)