Using History to Teach Mathematics

• Main Author: Klowss, Jacqui
• Other Authors: HTW Dresden, Informatik, Mathematik
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: Saechsische Landesbibliothek- Staats- und Universitaetsbibliothek Dresden 2012
• Subjects: Geschichte der Mathematik; Motivation; Sekundarschule; history of mathematics; motivation; secondary school; ddc:510; rvk:SD 2009
• Online Access: http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bsz:14-qucosa-80402; http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bsz:14-qucosa-80402; http://www.qucosa.de/fileadmin/data/qucosa/documents/8040/Proceedings-636pages-Dresden2009_328-330.pdf

Students today need to be taught not only the real life context of their mathematics lessons but also the historical context of the theory behind their mathematics lessons. Using history to teach mathematics, makes your lessons not only interesting but more meaningful to a large percentage of your students as they are interested in knowing the who, how and why about certain rules, theorems, formulas that they use everyday in class. Students are captivated by learning the history behind mathematicians, rules, etc. and therefore can link the lesson to something in history and a concept. Even learning the mathematics behind historical events motivates and interests them. They cannot get enough!