Mathematical Argumentation

Since 2012, Dr. Nicolas Balacheff is Directeur de recherche CNRS émérite (senior scientist emeritus at the French National Center for Scientific Research – CNRS). He is attached to the computer science lab LIG (Laboratoire d’informatique de Grenoble), member of the team Models and Technologies for Human Learning he created in the early 2000. Since 1975, Nicolas research domain is mathematics education with a focus on the learning of mathematical proof, and issues related to the modeling of students’ conceptions. This research developed within the framework of the Theory of Didactical Situations. His work on the categorization of students’ proof contributed to frame research in this area.   He extended this research to the learning and teaching of proof in a technology enhanced learning environment, in the middle of the 80s, as an early collaborator of the project Cabri‐géomètre. It is in relation with this multidisciplinary work with computer scientists that he proposed the cK¢ model of students’ conceptions fulfilling two constraints: being epistemologically valid and computationally tractable. One component of this model, the “control structure”, is instrumental to bridging knowing and proving. It is the focus of his current research. Co‐founder in 1980 of the French journal Recherches en Didactique des Mathématiques, he participated actively to the development of research in Didactique des Mathématiques, and directed the translation of Brousseau theoretical foundation (Theory of didactical situations, 1997, Kluwer). Nicolas served as President of PME (1988‐1990), member of the NATO panel of the Special program on Advanced Educational Technology" (1990‐1993). Founder and scientific manager of Kaleidoscope, the European Network of Excellence on technology enhanced learning (2004‐2007). Nicolas achieved the graduation in mathematics, then in computer science at the University of Grenoble. He got his PhD in 1978 on the classification of students reasoning and his Doctorat ès‐Science in 1988 on the learning of mathematical proof. He got the position of CNRS senior scientist in 1988, attached to labs in Lyon then in Grenoble since 1992. He directed the Leibniz Laboratory (computer science, cognitive science and discrete mathematics) from 2000 to 2006.

• Part 1: Setting the theoretical framework.- Chapter 1. Proof, the didactical transposition.- Chapter 2. What counts as proof from the perspective of mathematics teaching.- Chapter 3. Bridging proving and knowing.- Chapter 4. A case study: the area and perimeter of a rectangle.- Part II: A Key Case Study.- Chapter 5. Types of proof, from pragmatic to intellectual.- Chapter 6. Dealing with counter-examples, aspects of the complexity of a constructivist approach.- Chapter 7. On the problem of definition.- Part III: Entering the classroom.- Chapter 8. Designing a situation of validation at Grade 7.- Chapter 9. Designing situations for the early teaching of proof.