Why Teach Mathematics?: A Focus on General Education

ISBN-13: 9789048165049 / Angielski / Miękka / 2010 / 263 str.

H. W. Heymann

Opis

Seven years after its publication in Germany, this book is now available to English readers. In the German-speaking countries, the publication led to intense controversies on the significance, the goals, and the future development of mathematics instruction in schools. Currently, there is much debate in many countries on how to evaluate the findings of such international comparative studies as TIMSS and PISA, debate on which consequences should be taken for designing national curricula and on which reforms of mathematics instruction in schools should be initiated. I hope that this book might provide substantial suggestions beneficial to resolving these and similar issues, for its major concern is twofold: first, to determine the essential characteristics of general education in schools, and, secondly, on the basis of this, to specify the status of mathematics instruction within the framework of general education in schools. Due to the fundamental nature of my argument, I did not consider it necessary to update the book superficially for the English edition. Thus, I am presenting the book to the English-speaking public in its original form, the single exception being that I have omitted the original second chapter since that chapter ( Bildung und Allgemeinbildung ) seems to be relevant only to those readers especially interested in German educational debates. Most of those readers, in turn, will belong to the German-speaking public. The omission of this chapter necessitated a few insignificant alterations in the (otherwise unchanged) introduction and at the beginning of the present second (originally, third) chapter."

Spis treści

Preface to the English Edition 1: Introduction 2: An Outline of the Concept of General Education as a Frame of Reference 2.1 Preparation for Later Life 2.2 Promoting Cultural Competence 2.3 Developing an Understanding of the World 2.4 Development of Critical Thinking 2.5 Developing a Willingness to Assume Responsibility 2.6 Practice in Communication and Cooperation 2.7 Enhancing Students’ Self-Esteem 2.8 Concluding Remarks on the Scope and Status of this Concept of General Education 3: Mathematics Instruction From the Perspective of General Education 3.1 Mathematics Instruction and Preparation for Later Life 3.2 Mathematics Instruction and Cultural Competence 3.3 Developing an Understanding of the World in Mathematics Instruction 3.4 Thinking, Understanding, and the Use of Critical Thinking in Mathematics Instruction 3.5 Mathematics Instruction With Socio-ethical and Student-Related Objectives: Responsibility, Communication and Cooperation, Enhancing Students’ Self-Esteem 3.6 Elements of a New Culture of Instruction 4: A Profile of Mathematics Teaching as Part of a General Education Notes References Index