In this article, the author argues that coordinate geometry and all its trappings should be banned from key stage 2 in English schools. To explain why he makes such a strong statement, he discusses geometry problems tackled by the Ancient Greeks, showing how meaningful problem solving can occur without the use of coordinates and the corresponding…

A typical form of thinking to approach problem solutions humanly is thinking in analogous structures. Therefore school, especially mathematical lessons should help to form and to develop corresponding heuristic abilities of the pupils. In the contribution, a summary of possibilities of mathematics lessons regarding this shall particularly be…

Developing a software environment to enhance 3D geometric proficiency demands the consideration of theoretical views of the learning process. Simultaneously, this effort requires taking into account the range of tools that technology offers, as well as their limitations. In this paper, we report on the design of Virtual Spaces 1.0 software, a…

In the summer of 2009, a professional development partnership was established between the Peoria Public School District (PPSD), a local education agency (LEA), and Illinois State University (ISU) to improve geometric and trigonometric knowledge and skill for high school mathematics teachers as part of the Illinois Mathematics and Science…

Considers the problem of how to go from three coordinates to two. States that it is not a problem that mathematics students ordinarily encounter. Presents four methods of graphing three-dimensional figures on a two-dimensional computer screen. (PK)

Presents geometry activities for the K-2, 3-4, 5-6, and 7-8 levels that involve the students in cutting-and-rearranging figures and discussing, describing, and writing about the activities with language they already possess. Provides appropriate worksheets for the activities. (MDH)

Presented is a method of reorganizing a high school geometry course to integrate coordinate geometry together with Euclidean geometry at an earlier stage in the course, thus enabling students to prove subsequent theorems from either perspective. Several examples contrasting different proofs from both perspectives are provided. (MDH)

The study was conducted to investigate the relation of adolescent students' mathematics motivation and achievement to their appropriate help-seeking and inappropriate guessing behaviour while using instructional software. High school students (n = 90) completed brief assessments of mathematics motivation and then worked with software for geometry…

This article describes preparation and delivery of high school mathematics lessons that integrate mathematics and astronomy through The Geometer's Sketchpad models, traditional proof, and inquiry-based activities. The lessons were created by a University of Texas UTeach preservice teacher as part of a project-based field experience in which high…

A whimsical mathematics event for children and adults, derived from Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, was held at the Providence Children's Museum in Rhode Island. NCTM's Standards were the basis of all the activities. (Contains 10 figures and 1 table.)

One of a series of pre-apprenticeship phase 1 training modules dealing with math skills, this self-paced student module covers computation of areas of plane figures and volumes of solid figures. Included in the module are the following: cover sheet listing module title, goals, and performance indicators; introduction; study guide/check list with…

Presented is an informal technique for counting the number of different-sized equilateral triangles on an isometric grid. Five activities that relate to this topic are included. (KR)

In this article, the authors talk about transformation geometry being treated as little more than a set of tricks rather than as a mathematically rigorous topic. This appears to lead to pupils seeing little point in studying "reflections, rotations and translations" as other than examinable items in some future test. Following the argument…

In this article, the authors describe a free interactive circular geoboard environment that can lead learners to pose mathematical questions. They list three major ways in which one can imagine the environment and problems being used by teachers. Among other things, they discuss how the environment could support teaching and learning, and how the…

A method for generating sums of series based on simple differential operators is presented, together with a number of worked examples with interesting properties.