Using History in Teaching Algebra at the Teachers College

ISBN-13: 9783639156935 / Angielski / Miękka / 2009 / 144 str.

Tone Bulien

Opis

The background of this thesis is the changes in thecurricula of the educational system in Norway at theend of the previous century, especially emphasisingthe education in mathematics at Teachers Colleges in1993. History of mathematics is part of thecurriculum in the teacher education program and Ihave chosen algebra as a mathematical topic to teachthe history of mathematics to the student teachers. The goal is to give the students both historicalknowledge and enhances their mathematical knowledge.First I give a theoretical background for differentways of using the history of mathematics as aguideline in the teaching of mathematics. In specificthe historical expressions of algebra are explainedas well as problems connected to teaching the conceptof algebra as it is used in Norwegian schools today.I have chosen to describe some parts of thedevelopment of algebra through different epochs andfrom different sources in history. A set of problemsbased on historical sources was composed and given tostudent teachers that solved the problems and gavetheir comments about their experiences from this work.

O autorze

Tone Bulien is working as an associated professor at Bodoe
University College in Norway. She has a PhD in mathematics
education and teaches mathematics at the teacher education
programs. This book is her Master thesis with a few changes to
adjust to an international public.