The study presented in this article takes a closer look at how French and German high-school students deal with a mathematical modeling problem, what blockages they encounter and how differences in the modeling processes between students from both nations can be explained by differences between the teaching and learning of mathematical modeling in…

Our work is inspired by the book "Imagining Numbers (particularly the square root of minus fifteen)," by Harvard University mathematics professor Barry Mazur ("Imagining numbers (particularly the square root of minus fifteen)," Farrar, Straus and Giroux, New York, 2003). The work of Mazur led us to question whether the features and steps of…

Arguing that the teaching of stochastic processes should reflect the experience and reality of the student, the author urges concentration on fundamental ideas. The development of intuition should be encouraged, and to this end continuity in teaching and a spiralled curriculum are important. (SD)

This article describes a one-semester junior and senior level course in applied mathematical optimization for undergraduates which provides the opportunity to test models by doing numerical experiments and to learn to use computer subroutines for solving optimization problems. (MN)

Mathematical modeling is defined. Examples are used to show that there are models available which illustrate both the traditional use of mathematics in the physical science and its newer use in nonphysical disciplines, and which are at a suitable level for teaching in schools. (Author/MK)

Identified difficulties encountered in spontaneous modeling, as well as strategies, approaches, and language used in this activity. Graduate mathematics students (N=223) were asked to create a mathematical model of a biological process. Their solutions and strategies are analyzed and results described. Significant conclusions for teaching applied…

Reports a project that incorporated mathematical modeling into a college course. Reports evaluation of the course in terms of criteria derived from the stated aims: modeling performance, modeling framework, pedagogy assessment, and personal growth. Included are two sample problems. (YP)

Explored are responses of students aged 9 to 13 to linear generalizing problems from both a technical and strategic point of view. The methods commonly used were the same in all age groups and across all three questions, although some students choosing each model varied. (YP)