We present a detailed description of a Cryptography and Computer Security course that has been offered at Knox College for the last 15 years. While the course is roughly divided into two sections, Cryptology and Computer Security, our emphasis here is on the Cryptology section. The course puts the cryptologic material into its historical context…

Higher numeracy is associated with better comprehension and use of numeric information as well as reduced susceptibility to some decision biases. We extended this line of work by showing that increased numeracy predicted probability maximizing (versus matching) as well as a better appreciation of large sample sizes. At the same time, we replicated…

We offer a new angle to explain the comprehension of mathematical infinity. We use Action-Process-Object-Schema (APOS) theory to explore the construction of different aspects of the cognitive Object related to this notion. We focus our attention on different ways of interacting with infinity, and how to act on infinite entities. Our aim is to shed…

This study contributes to the literature on linear algebra instruction by designing and researching a teaching sequence based on APOS Theory to introduce engineering students to vector spaces. The sequence offers students multiple opportunities to understand the concept. Another contribution is the evidence that introducing prerequisite…

The understanding mathematical concept is an error that often occurs in classroom learning among students when solving mathematical problems. The most difficult part for students is solving problems, because it requires numeracy skills, high concept mastery, as well as the ability to use good language, and so on so that students don't make any…

The paper presents findings from a study that examined, through the lens of the Image Having layer of the Pirie-Kieren model, the qualitative characteristics of the images that different children formed when engaging with eight, novel partitive quotient tasks. The Image Having layer is the first point of abstraction within the Pirie-Kieren model.…

This work is the result of a master's investigation in Brazil, which discusses the teaching of the parabola in the initial training of mathematics teachers. Our theoretical framework addresses the relationship between intuition and the dialectics of the theory of didactic situations, which supports the analysis of the results of this study Its…

This paper is part of broader research being conducted in the area of algebraic thinking in primary education. Our general research objective was to identify and describe generalization of a 2nd grade student (aged 7-8). Specifically, we focused on the transition from arithmetic to algebraic generalization. The notion of structure and its…

This study examines the solutions of 34 kindergarten children as they create equal groups from n bottle caps, where n was equal to 8, 9, 22, and 23. For each n, children were asked to find as many different solutions as possible. The number of solutions they found, i.e., children's fluency, as well as the strategies used to create equal groups,…

Similarity is a crucial concept introduced in the 8th grade, and it is further developed and reinforced through associations during high school. This research aims to investigate how 8th grade students construct the concept of similarity using concrete manipulative support within the framework of APOS theory. The research was conducted as a…

Geometric concepts are fundamental to early geometry education, and developmentally appropriate practices are crucial for teaching them to young children. Robotic coding is an effective tool in many areas of early mathematics and has significant potential in teaching geometric concepts. This study aimed to test the impact of a research-based…

Programming-based activities are becoming more widespread in curricula. Our theoretical and empirical investigation seeks to identify appropriate ways to connect computer programming and algorithmics to mathematical learning. We take the intermediate value theorem as our starting point, as it is covered by the French school curriculum, and because…

There is a growing attention around the preparation of pre-service teachers (PSTs) as both learners and teachers of mathematical modeling. Current literature focuses on preparing PSTs as learners of modeling, and we extend current work by examining how PSTs integrate their understanding of modeling into the work of teaching. This study follows two…

Rational numbers are represented by multiple notations: fractions, decimals, and percentages. Whereas previous studies have investigated affordances of these notations for representing different types of information (DeWolf et al., 2015; Tian et al., 2020), the present study investigated their affordances for solving different types of arithmetic…

Among the relevant aspects of the family resemblance approach (FRA), our study focuses on the potential of the approach to elaborate on disciplinary identities in an interdisciplinary context, specifically regarding the interplay between physics and mathematics. We present and discuss how the FRA wheel can be used and intertwined with the…