DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS: THE USE OF NEWTON’S METHODUS FLUXIONUM ET SERIERUM INFINITARUM IN AN EDUCATION CONTEXT
Journal Title: Problems of Education in the 21st Century - Year 2015, Vol 65, Issue 1
Abstract
What is the possible use of history of mathematics for mathematics education? History of mathematics can play an important role in a didactical context, but a general theory of its use cannot be constructed. Rather a series of cases, in which the resort to history is useful to clarify mathematical concepts and procedures, can be shown. A significant example concerns differential calculus: Newton’s Methodus fluxionum et serierum infinitarum is a possible access-key to differential calculus. For, many concepts introduced by Newton ought be useful for the pupils/students (last or last but one year at the high school and first year at the university) to reach a more intuitive, geometrical and problem-oriented approach to calculus. The motivation to consider history of mathematics as an important didactical support is that the pupils/students often learn mathematics in a too formal manner, without understanding the real reasons for the introduction of several mathematical concepts. The problem is that the potential of such support is not exploited. The educational proposal is hence to show a concrete case to highlight what the teaching of mathematics based on history means. The conclusion is that a general theory, as differential calculus, should be considered by the pupils/students as a necessity, deriving from a specification, improvement and extension of the techniques used to solve significant problems posed and developed in the course of history. In this manner, mathematics appears as a human activity comparable with other activities and not as a merely formal exercise.
Authors and Affiliations
Paolo Bussotti
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP436176
- DOI -
- Views 125
- Downloads 0
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT ON AN INDIVIDUAL AND AN INSTITUTIONAL LEVEL ON THE WAY TO QUALITY CULTURE IN HIGHER EDUCATION
Several issues are always on the agenda in higher education, most notably quality assessment methods and whether this methodology has a direct influence on teaching, and the improvement of teaching quality by including e...
“THE TEACHER SHOULD NOT JUST BOSS AROUND ALL THE TIME”. GOOD TEACHERHOOD IN THE LIGHT OF YOUNG PRISONERS’ EXPERIENCES
The purpose of this study is to analyze the essence of good teacherhood through young prisoners’ school experiences and memories in order to find means to prevent antisocial and exclusion-oriented development in youths....
INCLUSIVE TOLERANCE AS A BASIS OF PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE OF PROSPECTIVE TEACHERS
The article describes the results of the comparative analysis of tolerance as a basis of professional competence of prospective teachers, whose professional activity can be carried out under the conditions of educational...
ADEQUACY OF READING COMPREHENSION OF TURKISH LANGUAGE TEACHERS AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHERS WORKING IN GAZIANTEP IN THE SOUTHEAST ANATOLIAN REGION
Through the university entrance exam taken once a year in Turkey, language, mathematics, science and social studies proficiencies of high school students and graduates are tested. The results of this exam demonstrate the...
SCHOOL-AGE CARE, AN IDEOLOGICAL CONTRADICTION
In the doctoral dissertation "Children with intellectual disability in the integrated school-age care system" the extent and goal fulfilment of after-school recreation centre activities in 19 Swedish municipalities were...