The aim of the course is to learn to teach mathematics in primary school and preschool. The main goals are the following:
1. To develop a cultural view of mathematics, by combining foundational mathematical contents with elements of history and epistemology of mathematics
2. To discuss the aims and contents of children's mathematical education, considering also their evolution in the context of the European educational and cultural tradition
3. To present the steps of children's mathematical education from preschool to the final year of primary school
4 To consider main didactical issues in the teaching and learning of mathematics, offering to prospective school teachers critical tools to effective decision making regarding organization and direction of activities, encouraging awareness and openness to innovation
teacher profile teaching materials
- Knowledge and understanding
- Knowledge of elementary mathematics as a subject in pre-school and primary school, including mathematical concepts as well as historical and epistemological aspects.
- Understanding of main issues in mathematics primary education
- Applying knowledge and understanding
- Ability to project and guide math activities in the classroom with children
- Making judgements
- Ability to analyse the educational situations regarding mathematics teaching and children's learning of mathematics
- Communication skills
- Ability to develop and lead math talk with children, to present examples and problems
- Learning skills
- Openness to further study in depth of elementary mathematics topics, historical and philosophical research, and the evolution of goals and methods of mathematics education in the international scene.
Giorgio Israel, Ana Millán Gasca 2012 Pensare in matematica, Zanichelli, Bologna. (Read chap.1, chap. 2, § 4. 4, §7.1 and 7.2, § 8.5, chap. 13)
Ana Mazzitelli, Ana Millán Gasca 2021, L'abc della matematica. Carocci, Roma.
Programme
With the study of mathematics and didactics of mathematics the student will be able to achieve the following educational objectives.- Knowledge and understanding
- Knowledge of elementary mathematics as a subject in pre-school and primary school, including mathematical concepts as well as historical and epistemological aspects.
- Understanding of main issues in mathematics primary education
- Applying knowledge and understanding
- Ability to project and guide math activities in the classroom with children
- Making judgements
- Ability to analyse the educational situations regarding mathematics teaching and children's learning of mathematics
- Communication skills
- Ability to develop and lead math talk with children, to present examples and problems
- Learning skills
- Openness to further study in depth of elementary mathematics topics, historical and philosophical research, and the evolution of goals and methods of mathematics education in the international scene.
Core Documentation
Ana Millán Gasca 2016 Numeri e forme. I bambini e la matematica. Zanichelli, Bologna.Giorgio Israel, Ana Millán Gasca 2012 Pensare in matematica, Zanichelli, Bologna. (Read chap.1, chap. 2, § 4. 4, §7.1 and 7.2, § 8.5, chap. 13)
Ana Mazzitelli, Ana Millán Gasca 2021, L'abc della matematica. Carocci, Roma.
Reference Bibliography
Papers and additional materials will be found on Formonline. Children's books and picture books can be chosen by the student. FEDERIGO ENRIQUES 1921, “Insegnamento dinamico”, Periodico di Matematiche, s. IV, 1, pp. 6-16. http://www.mat.uniroma2.it/mep/Articoli/Enri/Enri.html LAURENT LAFFORGUE 2007, L’insegnamento del calcolo nella scuola primaria, http://www.mat.uniroma3.it/users/primaria/Lafforgue_Calcolo scuola primaria.pdf ANA MILLÁN GASCA 2009 All’inizio fu lo scriba. Piccola storia della matematica come strumento di conoscenza, mimesis, Milano. RENÉ THOM 1973, Modern mathematics: does it exist, in Developments in Mathematics educations (G. Howson, ed.), Cambridge University Press Italian version in http://www.mat.uniroma3.it/users/primaria/Thom.pdf MARGARET DONALDSON various editions Children's minds (1978) MARTIN HUGHES 1986, Children and Numbers, Difficulties in Learning Mathematics, Oxford & New York, Basil Blackwell.Type of delivery of the course
The course is divided in two semesters. The I semester will be developed online using Formonline (https://formonline.uniroma3.it) where the student can found instructions for reading materials, podcasts and video, as well as other materials regarding the course. As soon as possible face-to-face lessons will be held regularly (4 hours a week).Type of evaluation
The written exam includes 2/3 open questions, including practical exercises regarding the didactical guiding ideas considered in the course.