Historical Perspectives on the Purposes of School Algebra
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| Title: | Historical Perspectives on the Purposes of School Algebra |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Ellerton, Nerida F., Kanbir, Sinan, Clements, M. A., Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia |
| Source: | Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia. 2017Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia (MERGA) (40th, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 2017). |
| Availability: | Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia. GPO Box 2747, Adelaide SA 5001, Australia. Tel: +61-8-8363-0288; Fax: +61-8-8362-9288; e-mail: sales@merga.net.au; Web site: http://www.merga.net.au/ |
| Peer Reviewed: | N |
| Page Count: | 8 |
| Publication Date: | 2017 |
| Document Type: | Speeches/Meeting Papers Reports - Evaluative |
| Education Level: | Secondary Education |
| Descriptors: | Algebra, Mathematics Instruction, Educational History, Secondary School Mathematics, Role of Education, Mathematics Skills, Foreign Countries |
| Geographic Terms: | Australia, United States |
| Abstract: | In this paper, we identify, from historical vantage points, the following six purposes of school algebra: (a) algebra as a body of knowledge essential to higher mathematical and scientific studies, (b) algebra as generalised arithmetic, (c) algebra as a prerequisite for entry to higher studies, (d) algebra as offering a language and set of procedures for modelling real-life problems, (e) algebra as an aid to describing structural properties in elementary mathematics, and (f) algebra as a study of variables. We conclude with brief commentary on the question whether school algebra is a unidimensional field of study. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Number of References: | 27 |
| Entry Date: | 2018 |
| Accession Number: | ED589462 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | In this paper, we identify, from historical vantage points, the following six purposes of school algebra: (a) algebra as a body of knowledge essential to higher mathematical and scientific studies, (b) algebra as generalised arithmetic, (c) algebra as a prerequisite for entry to higher studies, (d) algebra as offering a language and set of procedures for modelling real-life problems, (e) algebra as an aid to describing structural properties in elementary mathematics, and (f) algebra as a study of variables. We conclude with brief commentary on the question whether school algebra is a unidimensional field of study. |
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