Computer Algebra: friend or foe?
Supervisor: Patricia Cretchley
Description: Computer Algebra Systems are raising even bigger concerns amongst educators than did hand-held calculators, which influenced perspectives on mental arithmetic and hand calculation and changed mathematics curricula and classroom practice. While to some educators, increasingly easy access to computer algebra presents new opportunities and stimulating challenges, others feel that this sounds the death knoll for algebraic manipulation and fear the consequences. This course considers current views and trends and views, raises questions of equity and access, and explores the likely major impact of computer algebra systems on mathematical practice, curricula, pedagogy, and assessment. The current range of such systems, from hand-held calculators to powerful scientific software, is surveyed critically. Current literature, and leading education specialists' contributions to the recent Twelfth ICMI study on The Future of the Teaching and Learning of Algebra, form the basis for the course.
Prerequisites: TBA
Main text: TBA
Some potential study topics
| What is Maths? Ron Addie | Attitude and belief Patricia Cretchley | Computer Algebra Ed Patricia Cretchley | Assessment issues Patricia Cretchley |
| Education research? Patricia Cretchley | Bridge gaps Patricia Cretchley | Gender equity Patricia Cretchley | Teaching geometry Patricia Cretchley |
| Math history Patricia Cretchley | Gen Lin Models Peter Dunn | Bayesian stats Paul Fahey | Survey sampling Ashley Plank |
| Maths Methods Tony Roberts | Quantum Computing Tony Roberts | Water waves Tony Roberts | Games theory Tony Roberts |
| Parallel numerics Tony Roberts | Hydro stability Sergey Suslov | Math Biology Sergey Suslov | Banach spaces Oleksiy Yevdokimov |
| Fundamental Maths Education Oleksiy Yevdokimov | Number history Oleksiy Yevdokimov |