[Maths-Education] Re: ICT in mathematics

[John Bibby]

I'm not sure I agree with Alexandre about examinations, but I do agree about
the importance of  "Mathematical Oracy" i.e. speaking and listening to
conversations about mathematics. This is part of Mathematicking.

The spoken discourse is different from the written discourse (and  there are
different forms of both).

Tied up with this is the key pedagogic point that learners learn more from
each other than they do from the 'teacher' - if they are allowed to chat
about their mathematical enquiry.

A good classroom is a noisy classroom!

(Sorry Dietmar if this is a "dogmatic born of ignorance". You ask foir a
filter. You have one! - it is called the delete key.)

JOHN BIBBY

On 9 March 2011 10:13, Kuchemann, Dietmar <dietmar.kuchemann at kcl.ac.uk>wrote:

>
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> Some of the comments in this thread have been thoughtful and interesting,
> but some are dogmatic born of ignorance. Is there a way of filtering out the
> latter?
> Dietmar
>
>
> On 09/03/2011 10:00, "Alexandre Borovik" <alexandre.borovik at gmail.com>
> wrote:
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> On 09/03/2011 09:07, Candia Morgan wrote:
>  > Or if someone needs pencil and paper to solve a problem
>  > they have learnt using pencil and paper not mathematics?
>  > Different media allow different forms of mathematical
>  > activity and thinking. Conventions and power
>  > (including assessments) determine which of the
>  > possible forms are valued.
>
> There is a natural hierarchy of human modes of communication. In
> mathematics, the most important is the most ancient, voice.  Chalk on a
> blackboard, penicil on paper are just assistive tools for human speech.
>
> It is worth noting that, despite all the technological progress,
> teachers are still using speech in teaching, but (at least university
> teachers in this country) do not teach their students to talk about
> mathematics. It is perfectly possible to get a good university degree
> without ever opening mouth.  This is one of the main flaws obstructing
> the cycle of reproduction of mathematics in this country. (The situation
> is different on teh continent, where many countries still stick to the
> tradition of public oral examinations).
>
> Alexandre
> --
> Professor Alexandre Borovik * University of Manchester
> Web:       http://www.maths.manchester.ac.uk/~avb/
> Wordpress: http://micromath.wordpress.com/
> Academia:  http://manchester.academia.edu/AlexandreBorovik
>
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