Teaching Mathematics and its Applications - Advance Access

Solving the sailors and the coconuts problem via diagrammatic approach

Man, Y.-K. — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:42:51 PST

In this article, we discuss how to use a diagrammatic approach to solve the classic sailors and the coconuts problem. It provides us an insight on how to tackle this type of problems in a novel and intuitive way. This problem-solving approach will be found useful to mathematics teachers or lecturers involved in teaching elementary number theory, recreational mathematics or mathematics problem solving.

Bringing reality into the classroom

Heck, A. — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:42:50 PST

Technology offers ample opportunities to bring reality into the classroom. Students and teachers nowadays have many tools to work in an authentic way with real data in mathematics and science education. However, much research and development are still needed to create a consistent learning trajectory out of the many exciting single activities. Some examples are presented, in particular with regard to video and image analysis, modelling and simulation. In addition, authentic research projects of secondary school students are discussed.

Approaches to in-service teacher development in England and Wales concerning the use of technology in secondary mathematics

Clark-Wilson, A. — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:48:09 PST

In England and Wales, there has been a significant investment in technology to support teaching and learning in all subjects and school phases since the mid-1990s and a number of training models and approaches have been used, which include the development of online materials to support face-to-face sessions with expert teacher educator support. This article will briefly critique a previous government-funded project, the ‘Practical Support Pack’, contrasting its approach with that adopted by the TI-Nspire English Pilot Project (2007–2008). It will finish by considering dissemination approaches to widen the knowledge of exemplar approaches to teaching and learning mathematics using technology as teacher development activities themselves.

Maximum/minimum problems solved using an algebraic way

Modica, E. — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:30:26 PST

This article describes some problems of the maximum/minimum type, which are generally solved using calculus at secondary school, but which here are solved algebraically. We prove six algebraic properties and then apply them to this kind of problem. This didactic approach allows pupils to solve these problems even at the beginning of secondary school, when teachers dedicate considerable time to geometry, rather than waiting until the study of mathematical analysis at the end of secondary school.

Modelling drug administration regimes for asthma: a Romanian experience

Andras, S., Szilagyi, J. — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 03:57:15 PST

In this article, we present a modelling activity, which was a part of the project DQME II (Developing Quality in Mathematics Education, for more details see http://www.dqime.uni-dortmund.de) and some general observations regarding the maladjustments and rational errors arising in such type of activities.

The Bolyai lamp, a new math manipulative modelling the hyperbolic plane

Gyorfi, Z. — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 21:18:02 PST

The author, Zoltan Györfi, has requested that this article is withdrawn from publication.