[Maths-Education] Mathematics Teaching and Democratic Education

[Claus Meyer-Bothling]

A seminar with a difference will be offered in May 2004.=20
It is addressed to teachers of mathematics but also to non-mathematicians. =
After all it concerns the relationship of mathematics with society and of =
society with mathematics.=20

The basic ideas are these:=20
1. (Educational) In order to really understand mathematics, the students =
must have the opportunity to express their opinions and their judgement =
already at school. However if we teachers represent mathematics as a =
finished product in which both the results and the methods are already =
determined, it is difficult for the pupils to develop their own judgement.=
=20
2. (Social) Our current society is shaped by mathematical structures =
everywhere, visibly and invisibly. If the students do not learn to develop =
their own point of view in relation to mathematics they can later on =
easily be pushed into the defensive by "scientific" arguments. Yet our =
democratic society is urgently in need of on mature citizens, who are in a =
position to discuss things, even in technically influenced contexts.=20

In the seminar we want to discuss new ways of teaching Mathematics. In =
doing this we will rely on the latest beginnings in Germany as well as on =
the experienc of the participants from the different European countries.=20=


You can find further details in several languages here: http://www.zum.de/F=
aecher/A/BW/mude

Claus Meyer-Bothling
cmb@zum.de


-------------------------------------------------------------------
Landesinstitut f=FCr Erziehung und Unterricht
Stuttgart. Mo-Di, Tel: 0711-1849-574 (-565),
cmb@zum.de
-------------------------------------------------------------------