Do Teachers Need to Include the History of Mathematics in Their Teaching? (2003)

Re:Do Teachers Need to Include the History of Mathematics in... by pkaeding on Sunday December 25, 2016 @11:40AM (#13254605)

I think there is value in teaching that there have been prior models (but more energy should be spent on the current thinking) because it shows that good scientists are constantly researching and revising their ideas as they get more information. Science is never done.

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Re:Do Teachers Need to Include the History of Mathematics in... by dannypgh on Sunday December 25, 2016 @01:38PM (#13254966)

To be clear I agree there's value, I just don't think the value is as high as the other things that could be taught in that time.

I think appendices are really a good solution here. Those who are curious can read them- I know I would have. Those who aren't, can stick to focusing on the current model.

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Re:Do Teachers Need to Include the History of Mathematics in... by pkaeding on Tuesday December 27, 2016 @01:33PM (#13264955)

I'm not sure I agree. I think that understanding that knowledge is never done, and that science is about exploring new ideas and questioning our current understanding is much more important to the layperson than knowing how atoms are structured.

I also think that couching science as a journey--a mystery to be solved, with clues and red herrings along the way--will help to get students interested in learning the details. (This is all just my gut instinct; I have no experience in science education, so I might not know what I'm talking about).

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