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Teaching reliability theory with the Computer Algebra System Maxima
45-75Views:168The use of the Computer Algebra System Maxima as a teaching aid in an MSc module in Reliability Theory is described here. Extracts from student handouts are used to show how the ideas in Reliability Theory are developed and how they are intertwined with their applications implemented in Maxima. Three themes from the lectures are used to illustrate this: (1) Normal Approximations, (2) Markov Modelling, (3) Laplace Transform Techniques.
It is argued that Maxima is a good tool for the task, since: it is fairly easy to learn & use; it is well documented; it has extensive facilities; it is available for any operating system; and, finally, it can be freely downloaded from the Web. Maxima proves to be a useful tool even for Reliability research for certain tasks. This latter feature provides a seamless link from teaching to research – an important feature in postgraduate education. -
CAS as a didactical challenge
379-393Views:153The paper starts with the discussion of a concept of general mathematics education (mathematics education for everyone). This concept views the focus of teaching mathematics in the reduction of the demands in the field of operative knowledge and skills as well as in an increase of the demands in the fields of basic knowledge and reflection. The consequences of this concept are didactically challenging for the use of Computer Algebra Systems (CAS) in the teaching of mathematics. By reducing the operative work we reduce exactly that field in which the original potential of CAS lies. It is shown that in such maths classes the main focus of CAS is on their use as a pedagogical tool, namely as support for the development of basic knowledge and reflection as well as a model of communication with mathematical experts. -
Word problems in different textbooks at the early stage of teaching mathematics comparative analysis
31-49Views:308In a previous research, Csíkos and Szitányi (2019) studied teachers’ views and pedagogical content knowledge on the teaching of mathematical word problems. While doing so, they reviewed and compared Eastern European textbooks of Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Croatia, and Hungary to see how world problem-solving strategies are presented in commonly used textbooks. Their results suggested that teachers, in general, agreed with the approach of the textbooks regarding the explicit solution strategies and the types of word problems used for teaching problem-solving. They also revealed that the majority of the participants agreed that a word problem-solving algorithm should be introduced to the students as early as in the first school year. These results have been presented at the Varga 100 Conference in November 2019. As the findings suggested a remarkable similarity between the Eastern European textbook approaches, in the current study we decided to conduct further research involving more textbooks from China, Finland, and the United States.
Subject Classification: 97U20, 08A50
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Teaching probability using graph representations
103-122Views:187The main objective of this paper is to present an elementary approach to classical probability theory, based on a Van Hiele type framework, using graph representation and counting techniques, highly suitable for teaching in lower and upper secondary schools. The main advantage of this approach is that it is not based on set theoretical, or combinatorial knowledge, hence it is more suitable for beginners and facilitates the transitions from level 0 to level 3. We also mention a few teaching experiences on different levels (lower secondary school, upper secondary school, teacher training, professional development, university students) based on this approach. -
Numerical mathematics with GeoGebra in high school
363-378Views:184We have prepared a suite of motivational examples which illustrate numerical methods for equation solving. Fixed point iteration, Newton's method, secant method and regula falsi method are implemented as GeoGebra tools. Our experience in teaching of numerical mathematics in "Jovan Jovanovic Zmaj" high school in Novi Sad is presented. We have tested pupil proficiency in numerical equation solving with and without use of a computer and the results are presented. -
Some aspects of teaching the technology of designing and planning information systems in health care
131-144Views:105In this article, we use the well-known ideas of technology in designing of new information systems in health care. We explain the principle that "making a health care application" "is more than writing a program", "it requires a strong co-operation and continuous contact" between the system analysts and users. The concept of the information system must contain the work of the whole system, which means that the planning and designing process should focus on the services, which really support the customer's functions. It has to be compatible with the earlier information systems based on several decade's experience. In this paper we use the most important elements of system theory. First of all we explain why it is important to take into account the behaviour of those, who operate the information system, and also their habits and way of thinking when planning then information system. We emphasise that it is importance to overview the whole information system and its functionality because it is a major aspect of the system planning.
This paper can be used in university courses especially in teaching SDM, SSADM, Martin, etc. technologies for information system analysts, program designers and programmers. -
Report of meeting Researches in Didactics of Mathematics and Computer Sciences: January 20 - January 22, 2012, Levoča, Slovakia
205-230Views:171The meeting Researches in Didactics of Mathematics and Computer Sciences was held in Levoca, Slovakia from the 20th to the 22th of January, 2012. The 66 participants – including 54 lecturers and 25 PhD students – came from 6 countries, 20 cities and represented 33 institutions of higher and secondary education. The abstract of the talks and the posters and also the list of participants are presented in this report. -
Teaching probability theory by using a web based assessment system together with computer algebra
81-95Views:153In the course of Maths Basics 2, the Faculty of Economic Science students of Kaposvár University learn the classical chapters of Probability Theory, namely random variables and the well-known probability distributions. Our teaching experiences show that students' achievement is weaker in case of problems concerning continuous random variables. From school year 2012/13 we have had an opportunity to take Maple TA, the web-based test- and assessment system, into the course of education. It is sufficient for the users of Maple TA to have a browser. Maple computer algebra system, which runs on the server, assesses students' answers in an intelligent way, and compares them with the answers that are considered correct by the teacher. In our presentation we introduce some elements of Maple TA system, the didactic considerations the test sheets were made by, as well as our research results concerning the use of Maple TA. -
Forming the concept of congruence I.
181-192Views:145Teaching isometries of the plane plays a major role in the formation of the congruence-concept in the Hungarian curricula.
In the present paper I investigate the way the isometries of the plane are traditionally introduced in most of the textbooks, especially the influence of the representations on the congruence concept, created in the teaching process.
I am going to publish a second part on this topic about a non-traditional approach (Forming the concept of congruence II). The main idea is to introduce the isometries of the two dimensional plane with the help of concrete, enactive experiences in the three dimensional space, using transparent paper as a legitimate enactive tool for building the concept of geometric motion. I will show that this is both in strict analogy with the axioms of 3-dimensional motion and at the same time close to the children's intuitive concept of congruence. -
Wichtige Momente aus der ungarischen Geschichte des Analysisunterrichts
57-76Views:183Törner et al. (2014) paper gives an outstanding review about teaching analysis at high school level in (Western) Europe. We tried to extend this paper with some results from the Hungarian Math History (Beke and Rátz 1897-1924, after second World War 1949-1960, the current situation-first of all based on schoolbooks, and we also included an experiment from 1984-1989 by E. Deák, which was interrupted and partially forgotten). In summary, this paper deals with the turning points of the brief history of teaching secondary school analysis in the XXth century in Hungary, including some conclusions at the end.
Subject Classification: 97A30, 97C30, 97D30, 97E50, 97I20, 97I40, 97U20
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From iteration to one - dimensional discrete dynamical systems using CAS
271-296Views:100In our paper we present the basic didactical framework and approaches of a course on one-dimensional discrete dynamical systems made with the help of Computer Algebra Systems (CAS) for students familiar with the fundamentals of calculus. First we review some didactical principles of teaching mathematics in general and write about the advantages of the modularization for CAS in referring to the constructivistic view of learning. Then we deal with our own development, a CAS-based collection of programs for teaching Newton's method for the calculation of roots of a real function. Included is the discussion of domains of attraction and chaotic behaviour of the iterations. We summarize our teaching experiences using CAS. -
Group Work at High School According to the Method of Tamás Varga
167-176Views:260The 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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Teaching puzzle-based learning: development of basic concepts
183-204Views:407While computer science and engineering students are trained to recognise familiar problems with known solutions, they may not be sufficiently prepared to address novel real-world problems. A successful computer science graduate does far more than just program and we must train our students to reach the required levels of analytical and computational thinking, rather than hoping that it will just 'develop'. As a step in this direction, we have created and experimented with a new first-year level course, Puzzle-based Learning (PBL), that is aimed at getting students to think about how to frame and solve unstructured problems. The pedagogical goal is increase students' mathematical awareness and general problem solving skills by employing puzzles, which are educational, engaging, and thought provoking. We share our experiences in teaching such a course – apart from a brief discussion on our pedagogical objectives, we concentrate on discussing the presented material which covers (in two lectures) just one selected topic (pattern recognition). In this paper we present the ideas behind foundations for PBL and the material of the first of two lectures on pattern recognition, in which we address core concepts and provide students with sufficient exemplars to illustrate the main points. -
Comparison of teaching exponential and logarithmic functions based on mathematics textbook analysis
297-318Views:172Exponential and logarithmic functions are key mathematical concepts that play central roles in advanced mathematics. Unfortunately these are also concepts that give students serious difficulties. In this paper I would like to give an overview – based on textbook analysis – about the Hungarian, Austrian and Dutch situation of teaching exponential and logarithmic functions. This comparison could also provide some ideas for Hungarian teachers on how to embed this topic in their practice in another more "realistic" way. -
Integrating elements of data science into high-school teaching: Naïve Bayes-classification algorithm and programming in Python
307-316Views:263Probability theory and mathematical statistics are traditionally one of the most difficult chapters of mathematics to teach. One of the authors, Péter Princz has experience in teaching various topics via computer programming of the problem at hand as a class activity. The proposed method is to involve programming as a didactic tool in hard-to-teach topics. The intended goal in this case is to implement a naïve Bayes-classifier algorithm in Python and demonstrate the machine-learning capabilities of it by applying it to a real-world dataset of edible or poisonous mushrooms. The students would implement the algorithm in a playful and interactive way. The proposed incremental development process aligns well with the spirit of Tamás Varga who considered computers as modern tools of experimental problem solving as early as in the 1960s.
Subject Classification: 97D40, 97D50, 97K50, 97K99, 97M60, 97P40, 97P50, 97U50
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Algorithmics of the knapsack type tasks
37-71Views:151We propose a new kind of approach of the teaching of knapsack type problems in the classroom. We will remind you the context of the general knapsack-task and we will classify it, including the two most popular task variants: the discrete and the continuous one. Once we briefly present the solving algorithm of the continuous variant, we will focus on the solving of the discrete task, and we will determine the complexity of the algorithms, looking for different optimizing possibilities. All these issues are presented in a useful way for highschool teachers, who are preparing students in order to participate in different programming contests. -
Tamás Varga’s reform movement and the Hungarian Guided Discovery approach
11-28Views:504This paper presents Tamás Varga’s work focusing especially on the Hungarian Complex Mathematics Education reform project led by him between 1963 and 1978 and the underlying conception on mathematics education named “Guided Discovery approach”. In the first part, I describe Varga’s career. In the second part, I situate his reform project in its international and national historical context, including the international “New Math” movement and the “Guided Discovery” teaching tradition, something which is embedded in Hungarian mathematical culture. In the third part, I propose a didactic analysis of Varga’s conception on mathematics education, underlining especially certain of its characteristics which can be related to Inquiry Based Mathematics Education. Finally I briefly discuss Varga’s legacy today.
Subject Classification: 97-03, 97B20, 97D20, 97D40, 97D50
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Heads or Tails gambling — what can be learned about probability?
15-41Views:178During the teaching of probability theory, a problem may appear whose solution requires the use of methods that are unfamiliar to secondary school students. In this paper, examples of methods that can resolve this difficulties are demonstrated, which could in future allow school students to tackle and solve a wide variety of problems involving probability. -
Writing a textbook – as we do it
185-201Views:83Recent surveys studying mathematics teaching show that there is a great variety in the level of mathematics teaching in Hungary. To increase efficiency (and decrease differences between schools) it is essential to create textbooks with new attitudes. The experiment we started after the PISA survey of 2000, produced a textbook that is new, in some sense even unusual in its attitude and methods. This paper presents the experiences we gained in the course of this work. -
Report of conference XXXVIII. National Conference on Teaching Mathematics, Physics and Computer Sciences: August 25-27, 2014 Pécs, Hungary
281-303Views:144The XXXVIII. National Conference on Teaching Mathematics, Physics and Computer Sciences (MAFIOK) was held in Pécs, Hungary between 25 and 27 August, 2014 at the Pollack Mihály Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology. It was organized by the Engineering Mathematics Department. The 65 participants – including 4 invited lecturers and 53 lecturers – came from 2 countries and represented 14 institutions of higher education. -
Analysing the effects of OOP helper application
65-75Views:156Nowadays students of secondary schools are familiar with the usage of computer very soon, lot of them are even capable of handling user applications very cleverly. This is satisfying for most of them. Those who imagine their future in programming or system developing, need to have deeper knowledge about object oriented programming, however, students do have it at very low level or not at all. We want to make sure whether this suppose is true, so different examinations have recently been made at Slovakian secondary schools with Hungarian teaching language. We have reached a conclusion that the students' knowledge of object oriented programming is deficient. We could achieve better results by using proper applications as a visual aid. In this paper we examine the efficiency of an application made by us. -
The mathematics textbook as an aid to differentiation: a first Hungarian example
35-53Views:108Differentiation is a way of teaching where each student is taught according to his/her personal needs. This technique is not widely used in Hungary yet, although this would be necessary due to the introduction of the two-level final examination and to a growing concern for equal opportunities and integrated teaching. One of the most significant aids to differentiation is an appropriate textbook, and that is why a group of professionals wrote a set of textbooks that supports this technique. The paper examines the requirements for a differentiated textbook, and the extent to which the textbook in question meets them. -
Psychology - an inherent part of mathematics education
1-18Views:284On the chronology of individual stations of psychology and their effect on mathematics education designed as working document for use in teacher training.
The article is structured as a literature survey which covers the numerous movements of psychology towards mathematics education. The current role of psychology in mathematics education documented by different statements and models of mathematics education should provide a basis for the subsequent investigations. A longitudinal analysis pausing at essential marks takes centre of the continuative considerations. The observed space of time in the chapter covers a wide range. It starts with the separation of psychology from philosophy as a self-contained discipline in the middle of the 19th and ends with the beginning of the 21st century. Each stop states the names of the originators and the branches of psychology they founded. These stops are accompanied by short descriptions of each single research objective on the one hand, and their contributions to mathematics education on the other hand. For this purpose, context-relevant publications in mathematics education are integrated and analysed. The evaluation of the influence of concepts of psychology on teaching technology in mathematics is addressed repeatedly and of great importance. The layout of this paper is designed for the use as a template for a unit in teacher-training courses. The conclusion of the article where the author refers to experiences when teaching elements of psychology in mathematics education courses at several universities in Austria is intended for a proof on behalf of the requested use.Subject Classification: 01A70, 01-XX, 97-03, 97D80
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Research studies in didactics of mathematics supported by the Operant Motive Test
153-173Views:164The present paper reports a case-study which took place within an EUsupported international program organized for research and development of multi-grade schools (NEMED, [16] [26]). One of the main goals of the research was to develop the connection between disadvantageous social situations and the efficiency (success or failure) in learning mathematics especially from the point of view of average and above-average (talented) students: Why does the talent of children with socially disadvantageous background remain undiscovered? How can we make school mathematics more aware of hidden talents?
The author was looking for a didactical solution that compensated for social disadvantages without restricting the development of "average" students by using sociological, educational, psychological and mathematical (experimental and theoretical) studies in interaction with a series of experimental (hypothesis testing and exploratory) investigations.
We constructed tools and methods for exploration and experimental teaching, adapted to Hungarian conditions (Curriculum Development, teacher training, materials, interviews, Kuhl's motivation test, Malara's "researchers and practicing teachers in cooperation" method, etc., see [18], [20]).
The teaching materials and methodological guidelines are based on Bruner's representation theory (see [5]). The empirical research took place in 16 multi-grade schools located in different parts of the country. The author co-operated with nearly 250 students and 25 teachers for 3 years. In this paper we try to demonstrate how an Operant Motive Test can be involved in this research (see [18]). -
Veranschaulichung der Lehrstoffstruktur durch Galois-Graphen
217-229Views:181In this article we compare the process diagram with the Galois-graph, the two hierarchical descriptions of the curriculum's construction from the point of didactics. We present the concrete example through the structure of convex quadrangles. As a result of the analysis it is proved that the process diagram is suitable for describing the activity of pupils, still the Galois-graph is the adequate model of the net of knowledge. The analysis also points out that in teaching of convex quadrangles the constructions of curriculum based only on property of symmetry and only on metrical property are coherent. Generalizing concept is prosperous if the pupils' existing net of knowledge lives on, at most it is amplified and completed. Teaching of convex quadrangles in Hungarian education adopts this principle.
