Re: [MATHEDCC] Re: Semantics?

Vern Kays (vkays@RICHLAND.CC.IL.US)
Tue, 03 Jun 1997 13:48:17 -0500

I think we are missing an important point that the "standards" folks and
even the "tradition" folks would agree, Mathematics is not as clear and
simple as novice mathematicians would like. Letters mean what they mean in
context and in culture. Yes, it is confusing for novice mathematicians
(most of our students and some of our faculty, I am probably one of them).
We would like it to be beautiful and precise but it is not. We must always
define what we mean and why we mean it that way. One of the signs of a
maturing mathematical sense is the ability to view and understand
mathematics in mulitiple perspectives. Yes it is difficult for students.
When teaching foundation mathematics, I prefer to keep it simple. I like
"and" as representing the decimal because I learned it and understand it
that way. I also think there is an English(US) structure that supports the
notion, but I am not sure.

Our task as faculty is to assist students in seeing multiple representations
and using the "best" representation at the appropriate moment, (sort of like
technology).

ps:

the AMATYC workshop in St. Louis was great hopefully we can continue the
discussion here it was good to see some of the faces I had only read on the
listserve. There is a difference between mediated and non-mediated
communication as my wife continues to tell me.

Vern Kays

****************************************************************************
* To post to the list: email mathedcc@archives.math.utk.edu *
* To unsubscribe, send mail to: majordomo@archives.math.utk.edu *
* In the mail message, enter ONLY the words: unsubscribe mathedcc *
* Words in the Subject: line are NOT processed! *
* Archives at http://archives.math.utk.edu/hypermail/mathedcc/ *
****************************************************************************