Research in math education in Latvia

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Research in math education in Latvia

• Dace Bonka,
• Agnis Andžans
• University of Latvia

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Didactics of mathematics subbranch of
mathematics

• In Latvia didactics of mathematics is considered
  as a part of mathematics (accordingly to the
  structure of science)
• Didactics of mathematics is included into one of
  12 branches of mathematics Modern elementary
  mathematics and didactic of mathematics.

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Modern elementary mathematics

• Modern elementary mathematics was first in the
  world recognized as an official subbranch of
  science in 1995 by the decision of Latvian Concil
  of Science.
• Since then, similar decisions have been made also
  in other countries also didactics of physics,
  didactics of informatics etc. are included into
  corresponding branches of science in Latvia.
• This reflects the strong opinion that the inner
  logic of the scientific discipline has the
  dominant role in developing its didactics.

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Modern elementary mathematics

• Elementary mathematics consists of
• 1) the methods of reasoning recognized by a broad
  mathematical society as natural, not depending on
  any specific branch of mathematics and widely
  used in different parts of it,
• 2) the problems that can be solved by means of
  such methods.

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Modern elementary mathematics

• Many new areas of mathematics, especially in the
  discrete and algorithmic parts of it, are still
  today exploring elementary methods as the main
  tool.
• The movement of mathematical contests, has made
  an important service to elementary mathematics
• the system of math competitions created a large
  and constant demand for original problems on
  various levels of difficulty
• school curricula couldnt settle the situation,
  and the organizers of the competitions turned to
  their own research fields where they found rich
  and still unexhausted possibilities.

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Modern elementary mathematics

• One of important results that originated from
  the olympiad mathematics was the identification
  of the so called general combinatorial methods
• mean value method
• invariant method
• extremal element method
• interpretation method

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Directions of research modern elementary
mathematics and mathematical competitions

• the research in these areas is concentrated in
  the University of Latvia and has gained high
  international reputation
• Main research areas and results
• Liga Ramana Method of invariants (2004)
• Dace Bonka The interpretation method in
  elementary mathematics and mathematical
  competitions for the elementary school age
  students (2008)
• Ingrida Veilande Mean value method
• Aija Cunska Method of mathematical induction and
  ICT in math education
• Andrejs Cibulis polyomino and elementary methods
  for solving extremum problems

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Directions of research didactics of mathematics

• Main problem How to go out of crisis in math
  education?
• Research areas
• New didactical approach in teaching mathematics
• New textbooks
• ICT
• Main research topics and results
• Ilze France Teaching of geometry in the basic
  school (Grade 7-9) (2005)
• Gunta Lace Teaching of elements of combinatorics
  in the basic school and training of math teachers
• research in the general math education for junior
  students - mainly carried out at the University
  of Latvia and the Liepaja University. Prof. Janis
  Mencis (sen.) is an undoubted and internationally
  recognized leader here

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Directions of research

• research in higher education
• possibilities and impact of ICT on teaching
  mathematics
• Research in these two areas is carried out in
  many institutions (University of Latvia, Liepaja
  University, Daugavpils University, Latvian
  Agricultural University etc.)
• Historically, research in the history of
  mathematics in Latvia is closely tied with
  research in didactics.

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Thank you for attention!