Dirk de Bock – författare

Linear or proportional relationships are a major topic in mathematics education. However, recent research has shown that secondary school students strongly tend to apply the linear model also in situations wherein it is not applicable. This overgeneralization of linearity is sometimes referred to as the "illusion of linearity" and has a strong negative impact on students’ reasoning and problem solving skills.

"The Illusion of Linearity: From Analysis to Improvement" presents the reader with a comprehensive overview of the major findings of the recent research on the illusion of linearity. Although the empirical study of students’ improper linear reasoning clearly constitutes a new line of research, it owes a great deal to prior work in mathematics education research community (such as the work of the scholars of the Freudenthal Institute on realistic mathematics education).

Based on both quantitative and qualitative research, "The Illusion of Linearity: From Analysis to Improvement" discusses the following issues: (1) how the illusion of linearity appears in diverse domains of mathematics and science and how it is conceptually related to other more general misconceptions identified in the research literature, (2) what are the crucial psychological, mathematical, and educational factors being responsible for the occurrence and persistence of the phenomenon, and (3) how the illusion of linearity can be remedied by appropriate instruction.

"The Illusion of Linearity: From Analysis to Improvement" is essential to those working in mathematics education, particularly teacher educators and curriculum research and development.

Number three Inside Me is looking at you, it comes as no surprise to me. Im glad to be able to show you more of my stuff, hope youll like this little book as well.

I still use the same old patterns, same way of writing. I feel good with the arrangements of my poems, only the ideas are new, everytime again of course. Its understandable that my work becomes recognizable, sometimes I try to make something different.

Still I can feel that when I read a poem that Ive written, it gives me shivers, but in a good way as I intend to and so do others to whom Ive shown my new works.

Still working together with Xlibris, they have helped me with my first two little poetry works, so I decided to start this third book and publish it again with Xlibris.

For anyone interested in the history and effects of the introduction of so-called “Modern Mathematics” (or “Mathématique Moderne,” or “New Mathematics,” etc.) this book, by Dirk De Bock and Geert Vanpaemel, is essential reading.  The two authors are experienced and highly qualified Belgian scholars and the book looks carefully at events relating to school mathematics for the period from the end of World War II to 2010. Initially the book focuses on events which helped to define the modern mathematics revolution in Belgium before and during the 1960s. The book does much more than that, however, for it traces the influence of these events on national and international debates during the early phases of the reform.

The influence of modern mathematics fell away rapidly in the 1970s, however, and the authors trace the rise and fall, from that time into the 21st century, of a number of other approaches to school mathematics—in Belgium, in other Western European nations, and in North America.

In summary, this is an outstanding, landmark publication displaying the fruits of deep scholarship and careful research based on extensive analyses of primary sources.