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Examining continuity/discontinuity of a function by using GeoGebra
241-257Views:26The possibility to visualize the things with the help of today's dynamic software (GeoGebra being one of them), enables the students to see and explore mathematical relations and concepts that were difficult to be presented in the past, prior to the state-of-the-art technologies. In methodological sense, the contribution of this paper lies in the presentation of a set of visualizations designed to help students better understand and explore the basic calculus concepts such as continuity at a point, to examine discontinuity at a point, to display discontinuities and the relations between continuity and differentiability of single variable functions. In technical sense, this paper presents creative GeoGebra applets which offer new possibilities that could be of a vital importance for the future development of e-learning of College mathematics. -
"Upperview" algorithm design in teaching computer science in high schools
221-240Views:39In this paper we are going to present a teaching/learning method and suggest a syllabus that help the high school students look at the algorithm design strategies from a so called "upperview": greedy, backtracking, divide and conquer, dynamic programming. The goal of the suggested syllabus is, beyond the presentation of the techniques, to offer the students a view that reveals them the basic and even the slight principal differences and similarities between the strategies. In consensus with the Comenius principle this is essential, if we want to master this field of programming ("To teach means scarcely anything more than to show how things differ from one another in their different purposes, forms, and origins. ... Therefore, he who differentiates well teaches well."). -
The transition problem in Hungary: curricular approach
1-16Views:120The curricular background of the transition problem from highschool to universty is analysed in Hungary. While students finish their mathematical studies successfully at highschool, pass their final exams, this knowledge seems to disappear at their first year at university. We investigate the mathematical knowledge expected by the Hungarian universities and compare it to expectations of the National Core Curriculum. Based on the levelling tests of four universities we created a seven problem test for highschool students containing very basic problems required both by the universities and the National Core Curriculum. We analyse the results of the test.
Subject Classification: D34, D35
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Practice based course of Information Technology Service Management for BSc students
229-246Views:11Currently IT systems are primarily observed as sets of services, for example finance services can be accessed via the Internet. The IT background of an enterprise has strategic importance in its activity, but it is also important, that IT helps the enterprise supporting course of business really from the background. To implement this kind of conception, IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) provides practical advices.
The paper describes the topic of an optional course which introduces BSc students to the subject of IT Service Management the way that it can be used as a practice supplement beside theory courses of IT Service Management. -
The tools for developing a spatial geometric approach
207-216Views:74Tamás Varga writes about the use of tools: "The rational use of tools - the colored bars, the Dienes set, the logical set, the geoboard, and some other tools - is an element of our experiment that is important for all students, but especially for disadvantaged learners." (Varga T. 1977) The range of tools that can be used well in teaching has grown significantly over the years. This paper compares spatial geometric modeling kits. Tamás Varga uses the possibilities of the Babylon building set available in Hungary in the 1970s, collects space and flat geometry problems for this (Varga T. 1973). Similarly, structured kits with significantly more options have been developed later, e.g. ZomeTool and 4D Frame. These tools are regularly used in the programs of the International Experience Workshop (http://www.elmenymuhely.-hu/?lang=en). Teachers, schools that have become familiar with the versatile possibilities of these sets, use them often in the optional and regular classes. We recorded a lesson on video where secondary students worked with the 4D Frame kit. We make some comments and offer some thoughts on this lesson.
Subject Classification: 97G40, 97D40
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Teaching of old historical mathematics problems with ICT tools
13-24Views:20The aim of this study is to examine how teachers can use ICT (information and communications technology) tools and the method of blended learning to teach mathematical problem solving. The new Hungarian mathematics curriculum (NAT) emphasizes the role of history of science, therefore we chose a topic from the history of mathematics, from the geometry of triangles: Viviani's Theorem and its problem field. We carried out our teaching experiments at a secondary school with 14-year-old students. Students investigated open geometrical problems with the help of a dynamic geometric software (GeoGebra). Their research work was similar to the historical way. -
The single-source shortest paths algorithms and the dynamic programming
25-35Views:30In this paper we are going to present a teaching—learning method that help students look at three single-source shortest paths graph-algorithms from a so called "upperview": the algorithm based on the topological order of the nodes, the Dijkstra algorithm, the Bellman-Ford algorithm. The goal of the suggested method is, beyond the presentation of the algorithms, to offer the students a view that reveals them the basic and even the slight principal differences and similarities between the strategies. In order to succeed in this object, teachers should present the mentioned algorithms as cousin dynamic programming strategies. -
Assimilation of mathematical knowledge using Maple
321-331Views:41For more than four years we have been teaching a Maple course at University of Debrecen for prospective mathematics teachers. The aim of the course is that students get some experience on mathematical visualization with Maple. At the last part of the course the student is provided with a problem of geometrical flavor. Within three or four weeks he/she must obtain a solution. In this paper we present and analyze two of student projects: rotation of the hypercube and drawing of complex functions. The concluding remark is that most of the students will profit from using Maple for such type of problems: it helps to assimilate mathematical knowledge. -
Group Work at High School According to the Method of Tamás Varga
167-176Views:78The aim of our research is to develop students’ logical thinking. For this reason, Hungarian mathematics teachers need to be encouraged to try new methods which induce greater student involvement. Research all over the world prove that self-instruction or self-verbalizing has high effect on the learning process. This was one of the key elements of Tamás Varga’s experiment in high school. In our classroom experiments we are using a special cooperative method from Kagan among 14-18 years old students, called Sage and Scribe structure. We are looking for the answers to the following question: Does this method make mathematics lessons more enjoyable and more comfortable for students? Furthermore, we assume this structure could open the gate toward other collaborative and cooperative teaching technics.
Subject Classification: 97D40
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Comment les enseignants en formation initiale utilisent les technologies informatiques dans leurs classes
187-208Views:29The research presented here deals with the way French pre-service teachers assimilate the working of technology tools and the effects on professional practice of integrating these tools into classes. We focused on the professional writings of pre-service teachers regarding the use of technology in their teaching. The results show that, besides official instructions, the motivations put forward by pre-service teachers who integrated technology in their classes are mainly their students' interest in computers and how powerful this tool is. They also show that in such an environment teachers tend to keep in the background and to leave the students to interact chiefly with the computer. We also noticed that the specificities of managing a classroom in computer environment are not taken into account unless they generate problems.
Résumé. La recherche présentée ici porte sur l'appropriation des outils informatiques par les enseignants français en formation initiale et les effets de leur intégration dans les classes sur les pratiques professionnelles. Nous avons pris comme objet d'étude des écrits professionnels, élaborés par ces professeurs stagiaires, portant sur l'utilisation des TIC dans leur enseignement. Les résultats obtenus font apparaître qu'outre les injonctions institutionnelles, les motivations invoquées par les stagiaires pour recourir à l'informatique concernent surtout l'attrait de leurs élèves pour l'ordinateur et la puissance de cet outil. Dans le cadre des usages en classe, nos résultats montrent que l'enseignant a tendance à s'effacer devant l'ordinateur, considéré comme l'interlocuteur privilégié de l'élève. Nous avons aussi pu constater que les spécificités de la gestion de la classe en environnement informatique ne sont prises en compte que lorsqu'elles se révèlent sources de problèmes. -
A retrospective look at discovery learning using the Pósa Method in three Hungarian secondary mathematics classrooms
183-202Views:186While the Pósa Method was originally created for mathematical talent management through extracurricular activities, three "average" public secondary school classrooms in Hungary have taken part in a four-year experiment to implement the Pósa Method, which is based on guided discovery learning of mathematics. In this paper, we examine the students' and teachers' reflections on the Pósa Method, and how student perspectives have changed between their first and last year of high school. Overall, teachers and students had a positive experience with the Pósa Method. Furthermore, our research indicated that this implementation has met several objectives of the Pósa Method, including enjoyment of mathematics and autonomous thinking.
Subject Classification: 97D40
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Learning and teaching combinatorics with Sage
389-398Views:44Learning Mathematics is not an easy task, since this subject works with especially abstract concepts and sophisticated deductions. Many students lose their interest in the subject due to lack of success. Computer algebra systems (CAS) provide new ways of learning and teaching Mathematics. Numerous teachers use them to demonstrate concepts, deductions and algorithms and to make learning process more interesting especially in higher education. It is an even more efficient way to improve the learning process, if students can use the system themselves, which helps them to practice the curriculum.
Sage is a free, open-source math software system that supports research and teaching algebra, analysis, geometry, number theory, cryptography, numerical computation, and related areas. I have been using it for several years to aid the instruction of Discrete Mathematics at Óbuda University. In this article I show some examples how representations provided by this system can help in teaching combinatorics. -
Examples of analogies and generalizations in synthetic geometry
19-39Views:29Teaching tools and different methods of generalizations and analogies are often used at different levels of education. Starting with primary grades, the students can be guided through simple aspects of collateral development of their studies. In middle school, high school and especially in entry-level courses in higher education, the extension of logical tools are possible and indicated.
In this article, the authors present an example of generalization and then of building the analogy in 3-D space for a given synthetic geometric problem in 2-D.
The idea can be followed, extended and developed further by teachers and students as well. -
Why do we complicate the solution of the problem? reflection of Finnish students and teachers on a mathematical summer camp
405-415Views:31This paper deals with reactions and reflections of Finnish secondary school students and teachers on Hungarian mathematics teaching culture. The experiences were collected at a mathematics summer camp in Hungary. -
Demonstrating the feature of energy saving of transforms in secondary schools
43-55Views:32When we are teaching the digital image formats and we are explaining the JPEG format we may get into difficulties how to explain the point and the usefulness of the discrete cosine transform (DCT) to our students. Why do we need this transform before compressing? Students probably do not know that the feature of energy saving of this transform makes the chance of good compression. In this article we show how we can demonstrate that feature of these transforms which make the chance of good compression while saving the most energy of images. -
Lehre der Trigonometrie anhand realistischer Aufgaben im Online-Unterricht
87-105Views:108The aim of our study was to explore the effects of the active use of realistic exercises in the field of trigonometry. We taught a group of 14 pupils, who were in grade 11. The most of them told us they did not plan mathematics-related studies in the future. We included realistic exercises into our teaching plan, which covered the fields of scalar product, as well as the sine and cosine theorems. Our teaching experiment was done within the framework of online teaching. Effects on the motivation, performance and results of the students were taken into consideration. We also attempted to examine the effects of online teaching on motivation and whether the use of realistic exercises is worthwhile in an online classroom environment. Performance of the students showed a tendency of improvement when they were dealing with the material through realistic exercises even despite the teaching happened online.
Subject Classification: 97C70, 97D40, 97G60
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Teaching sorting in ICT
101-117Views:30This article is aimed at considering how an algorithmic problem – more precisely a sorting problem – can be used in an informatics class in primary and secondary education to make students mobilize the largest possible amount of their intellectual skills in the problem solving process. We will be outlining a method which essentially forces students to utilize their mathematical knowledge besides algorithmization in order to provide an efficient solution. What is more, they are expected to use efficiently a tool that has so far not been associated with creative thinking. Sorting is meant to be just an example, through which our thoughts can easily be demonstrated, but – of course the method of education outlined can be linked to several other algorithmic problems, as well. -
Recalling calculus knowledge
55-70Views:33The main purpose of educational system is not only that the students perform well at the exam, but to remember the learnt material to some degree some time after the learning. This paper investigates students' retained knowledge, focusing mainly on topics concerning derivatives and differentiation, and examines the effect of re-learning in a short period of time. Results indicate that retained knowledge should be taken into consideration in instructional design and curriculum planning for the sequencing courses. -
How to teach computer programming if our goal is the International Olympiad in Informatics
13-25Views:35Nowadays if a student in Hungary (age between 17-20 years old) wants to be the member of the Hungarian selected team (has four members) to participate in the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI), first, he has to qualify himself in the first fifteen of the National Secondary School Competition (OKTV) in the programming category after the III. round. Then he should be in the first four place after the sixth round of the Selection Competition. Being successful is necessary that the student wants to start studying computer programming at least in the 9th school year and he needs a teacher who prepares him. In the last nine years three students of the author have participated in five Olympics and two of them won gold and bronze medals. This article wants to demonstrate the methods that a teacher needs to use to teach students in 9th school year for computer programming, to be the member of the Hungarian National Team after three or four years. -
Comparative geometry on plane and sphere: didactical impressions
81-101Views:4Description of experiences in teaching comparative geometry for prospective teachers of primary schools. We focus on examples that refer to changes in our students' thinking, in their mathematical knowledge and their learning and teaching attitudes. At the beginning, we expected from our students familiarity with the basics of the geographic coordinate system, such as North and South Poles, Equator, latitudes and longitudes. Spherical trigonometry was not dealt with in the whole project. -
The theory of functional equations in high school education
345-360Views:40In this paper, we are going to discuss some possible applications of the theory of functional equations in high school education. We would like to line up some problems, the solution of which by functional equations are mostly not new results – they have also been treated in [1] and [2] –, although their demonstrations in high school can show a new way in teaching of talented students. The area of the rectangle, the calculating method of compound interest, binomial coefficients, Euler's formula, the scalar product and the vector product of vectors – we are looking for the reasons behind the well-known formulas. Finally, we are going to give a functional equation in connection with mean values. It can be understood easily, but its solution is beyond the high school curriculum, so we advise this part only to the most talented students. -
The role of computer in the process of solving of mathematical problems (results of research)
67-80Views:36We would like to present results of an almost two years investigations about the role computer in the process of solving of mathematical problems. In these investigations took part 35 students of the secondary school (generalists) in the age 17–19 years. Each of these students solved following problem:
Find all values of the parameter m so that the function
f(x) = |mx + 1| − |2x − m| is:
a) bounded,
b) bounded only from the bottom,
c) bounded only from above,
first without a computer and next with a special computer program. We would like to show results of these researches. -
Apollonius' problems in grammar school
69-85Views:28In this work there are ten problems of Apollonius listed with illustrations and solution possibilities including students' solutions, too. Usually, it is rather difficult for students to grasp the essence of these problems with the use of traditional means, bows and rulers, but the use of computers offers higher accuracy. -
Better understanding mathematics by algorithmic thinking and computer programming
295-305Views:117Tamás Varga’s mathematics education experiment covered not just mathematics, but also other related topics. In many of his works he clearly stated that computer science can support the understanding of mathematics as much as mathematics supports informatics. On the other hand, not much later than the introduction of the new curriculum in 1978, personal computers started to spread, making it possible to teach informatics in classes and in extracurricular activities. Varga’s guided discovery approach has a didactic value for other age groups as well, not only in primary school. Its long-lasting effect can be observed even in present times. Having reviewed several educational results in the spirit of Tamás Varga, we have decided to present an extracurricular course. It is an open study group for age 12-18. Students solve problems by developing Python programs and, according to our experiences, this results in a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts.
Subject Classification: 97B10, 97B20, 97D50, 97N80, 97P20, 97P30, 97P40, 97P50, 97U70
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Application of a color education software to improve color aptitude
267-285Views:13The ability to handle colors smoothly and consciously may be vital to professionals in various fields, including engineers specializing in architecture or design. Education in sciences related to colors and a developed color aptitude are essential. In our experience, many secondary school graduates in Hungary exhibit inadequate competence and need to be trained in both fields by college instructors, thereby laying the foundations for their future professional work. In our paper, we introduce a computer-based method to teach color theory using a self-developed interactive educational software. We also demonstrate the results of a test measuring the efficiency of the software. Our method was shown to be capable of familiarizing students with the basic fields of visual computing, e.g. graphics and image processing.