DIRICHLET’S PRINCIPLE AS AN ELEMENTARY MATHEMATICAL MODEL IN MATHEMATIC EDUCATION
Journal Title: Problems of Education in the 21st Century - Year 2011, Vol 31, Issue 7
Abstract
One important part of nowadays research in theory of mathematics education is focused on searching for some interesting and non-traditional mathematical topics and themes. The topic named the “Dirichlet’s Principle” is aimed to promote and exercise mathematical competencies by using quite simple mathematical rules. The rules were discovered and described in the 19th century by Johann Peter Gustav Lejeune Dirichlet (1805-1859). The article describes case studies as the results of qualitative research of mathematics’ lessons with the topic of Dirichlet’s principle at upper-secondary school and university. The elements of the history of mathematics concerning the topic and Dirichlet’s personality are also involved. Definitions, examples of exercises, tasks and problems are given in the article, too. Recommended methods of teaching with the focus on active methods, which support inquiry based learning, are described. Two case studies, one realized at secondary grammar school (17 year-old pupils) and one at university (student teachers) are described as examples of theoretical and methodological background implementation. The context of tasks and problems which are solved by using Dirichlet’s principle is set in real life situations. The topic content therefore helps to show the importance of mathematical knowledge for everyday life.
Authors and Affiliations
Sona Ceretkova, Lubica Korenekova
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP34974
- DOI -
- Views 319
- Downloads 0
THE INFLUENCE OF A SOCIAL – PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAINING ON A GROUP ATMOSPHERE
We have realized the experiment as a form of a social – psychological training (SPT) with university students – future teachers (140 participants). Their average age was 22.3 years. We have tried to fnd out the influence...
LEARNING ATTAINMENTS AS A RESULT OF STUDENT ACTIVITY, COGNITION AND THE CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT
The purpose of the study was to construct a model to comprehensively describe the relationships between the classroom learning environment, student’s cognition (student mediation) and learning outcomes. In studies of t...
CUTTING THE PREVALENCE OF PLAGIARISM IN THE DIGITAL ERA: STUDENT TEACHERS’ PERCEPTIONS ON PLAGIARISM IN INDONESIAN HIGHER EDUCATION
It seems that plagiarism has not been seen as misconduct in higher education in some developing countries including in Indonesia which might be affected by cultural, economic, and technological issues. The research aime...
LOGICAL ARGUMENTATION ON THE BASIS OF STATE EXAMINATION COMPOSITIONS
The present article discusses students’ argumentative skills as reflected in state examination compositions. The study focuses on the question whether students can logically argue in state exam compositions. For the gi...
VERBAL ASSOCIATIONS OF BULGARIAN TEENAGERS FOR ‘NATURE’
This paper presents a part of a survey aimed at studying the content of the concept of ‘Nature’ in the linguistic mind of Bulgarian children and adolescents. The issue under study is: “Are there significant differences...