The aim of the exploratory method research centered on the presence of mathematical tools in STEM through three main questions: Is mathematics an essential tool in the field of STEM? Can mathematics complete projects solely with mathematical and digital tools? Does understanding mathematical modeling affect STEM teaching? A better understanding of…

Gestalt psychologists pointed out about 100 years ago that a key to solving difficult insight problems is to change the mental representation of the problem, as is the case, for example, with solving the six matches problem in 2D vs. 3D space. In this study we ask a different question, namely what representation is used when subjects solve search,…

Many universities throughout the world apply student-centered approaches. Common to these is that projects, problems, challenges etc. stem from "real life". Mathematics is an effective tool to solve problems, but in this paper, we discuss how we reconcile the fact that mathematics is both a pure and an applied discipline with…

The economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic is exposing more and more Australians to financial loss, hardship and poverty. Even primary-aged students may be privy to conversations about unemployment, business closures, household budgeting, and difficulties making ends meet. Mathematics is a powerful tool that can raise awareness of inequity…

Teachers often look for good sources to find problems motivating students and stiffen the concepts they are going to teach and use in the classroom. This causes the question: "Where can we find good problems that can be used in classrooms?". History of mathematics presents many historical problems which can enrich the classroom…

Rhetoric about the importance of students being equipped to apply mathematics to relevant problems arising in their lives, individually, as citizens, and in the workplace has never been matched by serious policy or curricular support. This paper identifies and elaborates authenticity implications for addressing this issue, and describes aspects of…

The study explores the development of 11-year-old students' informal inference about random bunny hops through student talk and use of computer simulation tools. Our aim in this paper is to draw on dialogic theory to explain how students make shifts in perspective, from intuition-based reasoning to more powerful, formal ways of using probabilistic…

Sometimes, in the teaching and learning of mathematics, open-ended problems posed by teachers or students can lead to a fuller understanding of mathematical concepts--a depth of understanding that no one could have anticipated. Interesting solutions and ideas emerged unexpectedly when the authors asked prospective and in-service teachers an "old"…

When a two-dimensional (2D) traveling salesman problem (TSP) is presented on a computer screen, human subjects can produce near-optimal tours in linear time. In this study we tested human performance on a real and virtual floor, as well as in a three-dimensional (3D) virtual space. Human performance on the real floor is as good as that on a…

In this research, we examine how problem solving frameworks differ between Mathematics and Software Development. Our methodology is based on the assumption that the words used frequently in a book indicate the mental framework of the author. We compared word frequencies in a sample of 139 books that discuss problem solving. The books were grouped…

Nonroutine function tasks are more challenging than most typical high school mathematics tasks. Nonroutine tasks encourage students to expand their thinking about functions and their approaches to problem solving. As a result, they gain greater appreciation for the power of multiple representations and a richer understanding of functions. This…

This study examined the impact of teachers' characteristics and self-reported practices on students' Algebra achievement while controlling for students' characteristics. This study is based on the secondary analysis of data collected from a nationally representative sample of 9 th grade students and their mathematics teachers during…

In this article, the author talks about his experiences when he started a mathematics degree with the Open University. He shares what happened during a course on mathematical models and methods and his major influences in mathematics. He also offers his current pedagogy that is based purely on his experiences and time spent talking to other…

The presentation of physics content knowledge in conjunction with the lack of examples in solving problems leads high school students to struggle with mathematical problem solving in physics courses. This paper explains the importance and necessity of having mathematical courses for all high school students. (YDS)