International Studies in the History of Mathematics and its Teaching – serie

This contributed volume investigates the active role of the different contexts of mathematics teaching on the evolution of the practices of mathematical concepts, with particular focus on their foundations. The book aims to deconstruct the strong and generally wide-held conviction that research in mathematics constitutes the only driving force for any progress in the development of mathematics as a field. In compelling and convincing contrast, these chapters aim to show the productive function of teaching, showcasing investigations from countries and regions throughout various eras, from Old Babylonia through the 20th Century. In so doing, they provide a critical reflection on the foundations of mathematics, as well as instigate new research questions, and  explore the interfaces between teaching and research.

This book seeks to explore the history of descriptive geometry in relation to its circulation in the 19th century, which had been favoured by the transfers of the model of the École Polytechnique to other countries. The book also covers the diffusion of its teaching from higher instruction to technical and secondary teaching. In relation to that, there is analysis of the role of the institution – similar but definitely not identical in the different countries – in the field under consideration. The book contains chapters focused on different countries, areas, and institutions, written by specialists of the history of the field. Insights on descriptive geometry are provided in the context of the mathematical aspect, the aspect of teaching in particular to non-mathematicians, and the institutions themselves.

This book seeks to explore the history of descriptive geometry in relation to its circulation in the 19th century, which had been favoured by the transfers of the model of the École Polytechnique to other countries. The book also covers the diffusion of its teaching from higher instruction to technical and secondary teaching. In relation to that, there is analysis of the role of the institution – similar but definitely not identical in the different countries – in the field under consideration. The book contains chapters focused on different countries, areas, and institutions, written by specialists of the history of the field. Insights on descriptive geometry are provided in the context of the mathematical aspect, the aspect of teaching in particular to non-mathematicians, and the institutions themselves.

ICMI (or IMUK) was founded in 1908 and initiated the establishment of national subcommissions to launch national activities in response to the IMUK agenda and to promote the reform proposals within each member country.While ICMI’s activities were thoroughly studied, the activities of the national subcommissions are studied only very marginally. In the meantime, their work has been of major importance – both because of their role in exploring and documenting the development of mathematics education at the beginning of the 20th century, and because of the changes and new ideas which they brought to their countries. Importantly, even if some results of their activities were analyzed within their countries in the corresponding languages, almost nothing is known internationally. This book is planned to deepen our knowledge on at least some of the national subcommissions. The book will interest both researchers and others interested in mathematics education and its development.

This contributed volume is devoted to the recent history and evolution of mathematics education in Eastern Europe, exploring how it was influenced by social and political changes in this part of the world. Despite the broad recognition of the importance of these changes, little scholarship exists that examines the ways in which they were followed by changes in the teaching of mathematics in the post-socialist countries. Indeed, the analyzed processes are complex and vary across the states. Accordingly, this book touches on many factors--including differences in cultures and traditions – that find expression in the teaching of mathematics. Specifically, this volume seeks to explore what changes there were in education in general and in the position of mathematics in school education in these years, and how these changes may be explained and documented; what changes there were in the content of mathematics education and its assessment, and how were they motivated andadopted; what new textbooks appeared and what new methodological ideas were offered in them; how and why mathematics teacher education and/or professional development changed; what was the role (if any) of foreign influences on mathematics education, etc.The book will be of interest to both researchers in mathematics education and practitioners-teachers, as well as a broader audience of historians and educators exploring the political aspects of education.

This contributed volume is devoted to the recent history and evolution of mathematics education in Eastern Europe, exploring how it was influenced by social and political changes in this part of the world. Despite the broad recognition of the importance of these changes, little scholarship exists that examines the ways in which they were followed by changes in the teaching of mathematics in the post-socialist countries. Indeed, the analyzed processes are complex and vary across the states. Accordingly, this book touches on many factors--including differences in cultures and traditions – that find expression in the teaching of mathematics. Specifically, this volume seeks to explore what changes there were in education in general and in the position of mathematics in school education in these years, and how these changes may be explained and documented; what changes there were in the content of mathematics education and its assessment, and how were they motivated andadopted; what new textbooks appeared and what new methodological ideas were offered in them; how and why mathematics teacher education and/or professional development changed; what was the role (if any) of foreign influences on mathematics education, etc.The book will be of interest to both researchers in mathematics education and practitioners-teachers, as well as a broader audience of historians and educators exploring the political aspects of education.

This book is a collection of scholarly studies in the history of mathematics education, very abbreviated versions of which were presented at the ICMI Congress in 2021. The book discusses issues in education in Brazil and Belgium, in Poland and Spain, in Russia and the United States. Probably the main factor that unifies the chapters of the book is their attention to key moments in the formation of the field of mathematics education. Topics discussed in the book include the formation and development of mathematics education for women; the role of the research mathematician in the formation of standards for writing textbooks; the formation of curricula and the most active figures in this formation during the New Math period; the formation of certain distinctive features of curricula in Poland; the formation of the views of David Eugene Smith and the influence of European mathematics education on him; the formation of the American mathematics community; and the creation of such forms of student assessment as entrance exams to higher educational institutions. The book is of interest not only to historians of mathematics education, but also to wide segments of specialists in other areas of mathematics education.

This book is a collection of scholarly studies in the history of mathematics education, very abbreviated versions of which were presented at the ICMI Congress in 2021. The book discusses issues in education in Brazil and Belgium, in Poland and Spain, in Russia and the United States. Probably the main factor that unifies the chapters of the book is their attention to key moments in the formation of the field of mathematics education. Topics discussed in the book include the formation and development of mathematics education for women; the role of the research mathematician in the formation of standards for writing textbooks; the formation of curricula and the most active figures in this formation during the New Math period; the formation of certain distinctive features of curricula in Poland; the formation of the views of David Eugene Smith and the influence of European mathematics education on him; the formation of the American mathematics community; and the creation of such forms of student assessment as entrance exams to higher educational institutions. The book is of interest not only to historians of mathematics education, but also to wide segments of specialists in other areas of mathematics education.

The book presents the history of ICMI trough a prosopographical approach. In other words, it pays a lot of attention to the actors of the International movement. The portraits of the members of the ICMI Central Committees (1908-1936) and ICMI Executive Committees (1952-2008), and other eminent figures in ICMI history, who have passed away in the first 100 years of its life, are the guiding thread of the volume. Each portrait includes:·         Biographical information ·         An outline of the various contributions made by the individual in question to the study of problems pertaining to mathematics teaching/education·         Primary bibliography·         Secondary with particular attention to the publications concerning the teaching of mathematics·         Images: photos, book frontispieces, relevant manuscriptsThe authors of the portraits (30 altogether) are researchers in the history of mathematics, mathematics, and mathematics education. The focus on the officer’s role within ICMI and on his/her contributions to mathematics education, make the portraits different from usual biographies. In particular, since most officers were active mathematicians, the portraits shed light on aspects of their lesser-known activity. Connecting chapters place the action of these figures in the historical context and in the different phases of ICMI history.

The book presents the history of ICMI trough a prosopographical approach. In other words, it pays a lot of attention to the actors of the International movement. The portraits of the members of the ICMI Central Committees (1908-1936) and ICMI Executive Committees (1952-2008), and other eminent figures in ICMI history, who have passed away in the first 100 years of its life, are the guiding thread of the volume. Each portrait includes:·         Biographical information ·         An outline of the various contributions made by the individual in question to the study of problems pertaining to mathematics teaching/education·         Primary bibliography·         Secondary with particular attention to the publications concerning the teaching of mathematics·         Images: photos, book frontispieces, relevant manuscriptsThe authors of the portraits (30 altogether) are researchers in the history of mathematics, mathematics, and mathematics education. The focus on the officer’s role within ICMI and on his/her contributions to mathematics education, make the portraits different from usual biographies. In particular, since most officers were active mathematicians, the portraits shed light on aspects of their lesser-known activity. Connecting chapters place the action of these figures in the historical context and in the different phases of ICMI history.

This book is about the creation and production of textbooks for learning and teaching mathematics. It covers a period from Antiquity to Modern Times. The analysis begins by assessing principal cultures with a practice of mathematics. The tension between the role of the teacher and his oral mode, on the one hand, and the use of a written (printed) text, in their respective relation with the student, is one of the dimensions of the comparative analysis, conceived of as the ‘textbook triangle’. The changes in this tension with the introduction of the printing press are discussed. The book presents various national case studies (France, Germany, Italy) as well as analyses of the internationalisation of textbooks via transmission processes. As this topic has not been sufficiently explored in the literature, it will be very well received by scholars of mathematics education, mathematics teacher educators and anyone with an interest in the field.

This book is about the creation and production of textbooks for learning and teaching mathematics. It covers a period from Antiquity to Modern Times. The analysis begins by assessing principal cultures with a practice of mathematics. The tension between the role of the teacher and his oral mode, on the one hand, and the use of a written (printed) text, in their respective relation with the student, is one of the dimensions of the comparative analysis, conceived of as the ‘textbook triangle’. The changes in this tension with the introduction of the printing press are discussed. The book presents various national case studies (France, Germany, Italy) as well as analyses of the internationalisation of textbooks via transmission processes. As this topic has not been sufficiently explored in the literature, it will be very well received by scholars of mathematics education, mathematics teacher educators and anyone with an interest in the field.

This book describes and analyses the history of Dutch mathematics education from the point of view of the changing motivations behind the teaching of mathematics over a 200 year period. During the course of the 19th century, mathematics in the Netherlands developed from a topic for practitioners into a school topic that was taught to almost all pupils of secondary education.  As mathematics teaching gradually lost its practical orientation and became more and more motivated on the basis of its supposed formative value, the HBS (Hogere Burgerschool), the Dutch variant of the German Realschule, became the dominant school of thought for mathematics pedagogy. This book examines the gradual development of the field, culminating in the country-wide adoption of Realistic Mathematics Education as the new method of mathematics teaching.  This book is important for anyone who is interested in the history of mathematics education. It provides an interesting perspective on the development of mathematics education in a country that, in many aspects, went its own way.