Structural Understanding In Advanced Mathematical Thinking

Structural understanding in advanced mathematical thinking

Advanced Mathematical Thinking

Advanced Mathematical Thinking has played a central role in the development of human civilization for over two millennia. Yet in all that time the serious study of the nature of advanced mathematical thinking – what it is, how it functions in the minds of expert mathematicians, how it can be encouraged and improved in the developing minds of students – has been limited to the reflections of a few significant individuals scattered throughout the history of mathematics. In the twentieth century the theory of mathematical education during the compulsory years of schooling to age 16 has developed its own body of empirical research, theory and practice. But the extensions of such theories to more advanced levels have only occurred in the last few years. In 1976 The International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics (known as PME) was formed and has met annually at different venues round the world to share research ideas. In 1985 a Working Group of PME was formed to focus on Advanced Mathematical Thinking with a major aim of producing this volume. The text begins with an introductory chapter on the psychology of advanced mathema- cal thinking, with the remaining chapters grouped under three headings: • the nature of advanced mathematical thinking, • cognitive theory, and • reviews of the progress of cognitive research into different areas of advanced mathematics.

Rigorous Mathematical Thinking

This book demonstrates how rigorous mathematical thinking can be fostered through the development of students' cognitive tools and operations. This approach seems to be particularly effective with socially disadvantaged and culturally different students. The authors argue that children's cognitive functions cannot be viewed as following a natural maturational path: they should be actively constructed during the educational process. The Rigorous Mathematical Thinking (RMT) model is based on two major theoretical approaches – Vygotsky's theory of psychological tools and Feuerstein's concept of mediated learning experience. The book starts with general cognitive tools that are essential for all types of problem solving and then moves to mathematically specific cognitive tools and methods for utilizing these tools for mathematical conceptual formation. The application of the RMT model in various urban classrooms demonstrates how mathematics education standards can be reached even by the students with a history of educational failure who were considered hopeless underachievers.