Mathematics as a Constructive Activity

Explains and demonstrates the role of examples in the teaching and learning of mathematics, and their place in mathematics generally at all levels. Includes a combination of exercises for the reader, practical applications for teaching, and solid scholarly grounding.

This book explains and demonstrates the teaching strategy of asking learners to construct their own examples of mathematical objects. The authors show that the creation of examples can involve transforming and reorganizing knowledge and can develop and extend knowledge structures.

"....I found this book enlightening and delightful, useful for the teacher and thought-provoking for the researcher." --Michael N. Fried, ZDM 2006 Vol. 38 "The book is a worthy addition to any library. It will appeal to a diverse audience: Anyone who enjoys the thrill of communicating and sharing the satisfaction of unanticipalted discoveries through the act of constructing examples will welcome the book."--Mathematical Thinking and Learning, Vol. 8, No. 4

Autorentext

Anne Watson, John Mason

Klappentext

Explains and demonstrates the role of examples in the teaching and learning of mathematics, and their place in mathematics generally at all levels. Includes a combination of exercises for the reader, practical applications for teaching, and solid scholarly grounding.

Inhalt

Contents: Preface. Introduction in Exemplification in Mathematics. Learner-Generated Examples in Classrooms. From Examples to Example Spaces. The Development of Learners' Example Spaces. Pedagogical Tools for Developing Example Spaces. Strategies for Prompting and Using Learner-Generated Examples. Mathematics as a Constructive Activity. Appendices.