Answers Burn's question related to a previous study on the nature of knowledge about abstract algebra. Claims that a previous paper presents research that attempts to contribute to knowledge of how students' understanding of certain group concepts may develop instead of teaching abstract algebra with the computer software ISETL. (ASK)

Presents many problems involving scheduling after-school activities and tournaments that bring the topic of Euler paths to a level of understanding for elementary students. (MKR)

Ben, a good mathematics student, participated in a seven-week study. Describes three tasks that reflect impact of textbooks, real-life connections, and mathematical symbols. Shows that Ben's notion of one-half was task-dependent, concrete, and based on physical actions. (NI)

Investigated the pedagogical quality of physical space by adapting a classroom to create a material "educational field" and testing children's performance on a "go to the front and right of the tower" activity. Found that the educational field made it possible for children to put into relation two spatial reference systems and…

Presents a hands-on investigation for students to measure the flow of water through a waterway. Involves problem solving and reasoning, develops communication skills, and connects various mathematical concepts and principles. (Author/NB)

Considers young peoples' views of infinity prior to instruction in the methods mathematicians use in addressing the subject of infinity. Presents a partially historical account of studies examining young peoples' ideas of infinity. Four sections address potential pitfalls for research in this area and the work of Piaget, issues concerning the…

Research shows that vocational education programs are improved through infusion of math skills into the curriculum. Integrating math skills must be a joint effort between academic and vocational instructors. Skills must be taught and reinforced in both classrooms. (Author)

Open-ended tasks for developing numeracy skills reflect the fact that real-life math problems are seldom closed or have a single right answer. The "giving a party" problem shows how different math concepts and problem-solving skills can be brought out in open-ended tasks. (SK)

Describes a learning activity in which students build a pneumatic arm wrestling machine, thus combining their interest in arm wrestling while making direct applications to many scientific and mathematical concepts. (JOW)

Explores first-year students' understanding of fundamental calculus concepts using written tests and interviews. Analysis of the written and verbal responses to the test items revealed significant misconceptions on which students' mathematical activities were based. Describes some of those misconceptions and errors relating to students'…

Describes how bookmakers calculate the betting odds on each of the horses in a race. Explains how the theory of probability is related to oddsmaking. (Author/WRM)

Argues that deaf children lag behind their hearing cohorts in mathematics achievement tests and that this difficulty is a consequence of their lack of covert counting strategies and reliance on memorized verbal facts. Investigates the acquisition of an alternative method by deaf students (N=6). Recommends examining better ways to teach arithmetic…

Adults need both functional math skills (numeracy) and knowledge of mathematical concepts for full participation in society. Development of critical numeracy skills should take account of differing skill levels and the coping strategies adults already use. (SK)

Examined the relationship between 6- to 8-year olds' conceptual understanding of additive composition, commutativity, and associativity principles and addition problem-solving procedures. Results revealed that conceptual understanding was related to using order-indifferent, decomposition, and retrieval strategies and speed and accuracy in solving…

Discusses the history of the abacus. (Author/CCM)