Learn math history to learn math theory
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Learn math history to learn math theory. A Dutch scientist says she’s discovered that knowing how a mathematical theory developed improves …
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Learn math history to learn math theory
A Dutch scientist says she’s discovered that knowing how a mathematical theory developed improves
a pupil’s understanding of the theory.
Researcher Iris van Gulik of the University of Groningen, developed a method in which a mathematical
theory is taught based on the history of its development. For 13 to 15-year-old high school pupils, geometry
was introduced by studying 17th-century Dutch surveying, while 16 to 18-year-old students learned about
proofs in plane geometry by studying the history of non-Euclidean geometry.
Van Gulik found the history of non-Euclidean geometry was particularly successful. Those pupils acquired
a deeper understanding and the teachers indicated they found the subject challenging and inspiring.
The study of 17th-century surveying did not directly lead to a deeper understanding among pupils, but the
14 to 15-year-olds responded more positively to the integration of history in mathematics lessons than 13 to
14-year-old pupils.
Van Gulik concludes the inclusion of historical sources in mathematics teaching material is effective, but
the extent to which such materials need to be processed should be determined. A detailed teacher’s
handbook for the teaching methods is also…
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