History in Mathematics Education

by Fauvel, John; Van Maanen, Jan

• ISBN13: 9781402009426
• ISBN10: 1402009429
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-11-01
• Publisher: Kluwer Academic Pub

Summary

This book investigates how the learning and teaching of mathematics can be improved through integrating the history of mathematics into all aspects of mathematics education: lessons, homework, texts, lectures, projects, assessment, and curricula. Most of the leading specialists in the field have contributed to this ground-breaking book, whose topics include the integration of history in the classroom, its value in the training of teachers, historical support for particular subjects and for students with diverse educational requirements, the use of original texts written by great mathematicians of the past, the epistemological backgrounds to choose for history, and non-standard media and other resources, from drama to the internet. Resulting from an international study on behalf of ICMI (the International Commission of Mathematics Instruction), the book draws upon evidence from the experience of teachers as well as national curricula, textbooks, teacher education practices, and research perspectives across the world. Together with its 300-item annotated bibliography of recent work in the field in eight languages, the book provides firm foundations for future developments. Focusing on such issues as the many different ways in which the history of mathematics might be useful, on scientific studies of its effectiveness as a classroom resource, and on the political process of spreading awareness of these benefits through curriculum design, the book will be of particular interest to teachers, mathematics educators, decision-makers, and concerned parents across the world.

Table of Contents

Introduction

The political context

Philosophical, multicultural and interdisciplinary issues

Integrating history: research perspectives

History of Mathematics for Trainee Teachers

Historical formation and student understanding of mathematics

History in support of diverse educational requirements - opportunities for change

Integrating history of mathematics in the classroom: an analytic survey

Historical support for particular subjects

The use of original sources in the mathematics classroom

Non-standard media and other resources

Bibliography for further work in the area

Notes on contributors

Index

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.