Related papers: The teaching of proof
Mathematical literacy plays an important role in supporting individuals to fulfil their professional roles in modern society. The affordances of mobile technologies as well as the emergence of new theories in mobile learning have the…
Mathematics enters the period of change unprecedented in its history, perhaps even a revolution: a switch to use of computers as assistants and checkers in production of proofs. This requires rethinking traditional approaches to mathematics…
Computer-supported learning is an increasingly important form of study since it allows for independent learning and individualized instruction. In this paper, we discuss a novel approach to developing an intelligent tutoring system for…
A primary goal of physics is to create mathematical models that allow both predictions and explanations of physical phenomena. We weave maths extensively into our physics instruction beginning in high school, and the level and complexity of…
Remarks on mathematical proof and the practice of mathematics.
This essay considers the special character of mathematical reasoning, and draws on observations from interactive theorem proving and the history of mathematics to clarify the nature of formal and informal mathematical language. It proposes…
In recent years, computing has become an important part of the way we teach and learn physics. Teachers, both at high school and college levels, now use computational activities in many of their courses. Physics departments are offering…
Usually the first course in mathematics is calculus. Its a core course in the curriculum of the Business, Engineering and the Sciences. However many students face difficulties to learn calculus. These difficulties are often caused by the…
Theorem proving is a fundamental aspect of mathematics, spanning from informal reasoning in natural language to rigorous derivations in formal systems. In recent years, the advancement of deep learning, especially the emergence of large…
Proof competence, i.e. the ability to write and check (mathematical) proofs, is an important skill in Computer Science, but for many students it represents a difficult challenge. The main issues are the correct use of formal language and…
This study aims to observe if the theorem prover Lean positively influences students' understanding of mathematical proving. To this end, we perform a pilot study concerning freshmen students at the University of Zurich (UZH). While doing…
We present a research mathematician's perspective on current developments around in K-12 mathematics. We share activities, and highlight the different ways in which students' reasoning can progress, such as amount of abstraction,…
"Math is not a spectator sport." "Lecturing is educational malpractice." Slogans like these rally some mathematicians to teach classes that feature "active learning", where lecturing is eschewed for student participation. Yet as much as I…
Mathematics is an essential element of physics problem solving, but experts often fail to appreciate exactly how they use it. Math may be the language of science, but math-in-physics is a distinct dialect of that language. Physicists tend…
Mathematical proofs are often said to justify their conclusions by indicating the existence of a corresponding formal derivation. We argue that this widespread view relies on an under-examined notion of correspondence, or what it means for…
Mathematical understanding is built in many ways. Among these, illustration has been a companion and tool for research for as long as research has taken place. We use the term illustration to encompass any way one might bring a mathematical…
Following the processing of individual topics of elementary school mathematics as content of empirical theories the question is adressed wether the associated conception of mathematics finds itself under established concepts, and how it can…
We have developed an alternative approach to teaching computer science students how to prove. First, students are taught how to prove theorems with the Coq proof assistant. In a second, more difficult, step students will transfer their…
This communication contributes to research on proof validation as a lens for uncovering didactical phenomena related to proof and proving. We revisit the puzzling case of lower secondary students in France who validate circular proofs. That…
Good problems grab us. They invite us to find patterns, make conjectures, and prove-or perhaps disprove-a conjecture. When I first taught, I saw my work as tantalizing students with structures just beyond their reach, so that I could elicit…