In this paper we display an example of how educational software Geogebra can be used as a tool for the STEM education. Geogebra is used in the process of introducing students in high school to mathematical models of materials science. Scientific results from materials science experiments were used for mathematical modelling and learning about the…

Technology has changed school geometry in many aspects. Hand-made sketches can be substituted with precise dynamic constructions; computer software allows effective measuring of geometric quantities, persuasive visualisation, effective checking of properties, and even automated proving. Observation -- a process that is inherent in geometric…

Inquiry-based learning (IBL) is a pedagogical approach in which students address complex, ill-structured problems set in authentic contexts. While IBL is gaining ground in Australia as an instructional practice, there has been little research that considers implications for student motivation and engagement. Expectancy-value theory (Eccles and…

The solar eclipse coming August 21 offers students the opportunity not only to explore the geometry of the solar system but also to learn about exoplanets transiting distant stars. Students can glimpse a great frontier of science: the search for other worlds and life. This article presents information on exoplanets, discovering planets around…

The phrase "interdimensional relationships" may conjure images of UFOs, alien beings, wormholes, and even mystical powers. These notions of interdimensionality were not out of bounds in the middle school learners' experiences described in this article. However, these notions do not entirely capture the mathematical relationships…

This article explores the process of finding the Fermat point for a triangle ABC in three dimensions. Three examples are presented in detail using geometrical methods. A delightfully simple general method is then presented that requires only the comparison of coordinates of the vertices A, B and C.

The concepts and instruments required for the teaching and learning of geometric optics are introduced in the didactic process without a proper didactic transposition. This claim is secured by the ample evidence of both wide- and deep-rooted alternative concepts on the topic. Didactic transposition is a theory that comes from a reflection on the…

This study aims to examine prospective elementary mathematics teachers' conceptual knowledge level for congruence and similarity in triangles subject and to examine their ability to represent the knowledge, to associate the knowledge with daily life, and to justify and solve the geometry problems about this subject. The study is designed in a…

In this study, it was aimed to show the effect of computer assisted learning on the academic achievement, performance levels and computer attitudes of 8th grade students in "Transformation Geometry" subject and determine students' opinions about this learning environment. The study was conducted with embedded design, one of the mixed…

In this brief article Elana Reiser describes her favorite lesson that combines popular culture with mathematics in a way that motivates student thinking and participation. Exploring open-ended problems, students may feel uneasy at first, but working in small groups often leads them to experiment with a variety of solutions. Reiser explains that…

The sample mean is sometimes depicted as a fulcrum placed under the Dot plot. We provide an alternative geometric visualization of the sample mean using the empirical cumulative distribution function or the cumulative histogram data.

The article is dedicated to solving extrema problems in teaching mathematics, without using calculus. We present and discuss a wide variety of mathematical extrema tasks where the extrema are obtained and find their solutions without resorting to differential. Particular attention is paid to the role of arithmetic and geometric means inequality in…

This article uses parts of qualitative data from the first author's study that focused on exploring Pirie and Kieren's process of "folding back," revisiting previously held understandings of a concept for its extended understanding in order to solve the problem of enhancing Grade 10 learners' reasoning in geometry. In South Africa,…

This research study examined the ways participants analyzed students' mathematical thinking in a Teaching Mathematics with Technology Massive Open Online Course for Educators. 179 discussion forum posts made by 35 highly engaged participants were analyzed to determine the focus of their attention. If the focus of the post was student thinking, the…

Students often have the misconception that mathematics involves reading the problem, staring at the page, and then writing down an answer. With more than twenty years of experience working with students in eighth-grade math through college calculus, the author has been increasingly interested in how she can foster problem-solving skills in her…