Revisiting Felix Klein's Elementary Mathematics From An Advanced Standpoint

Bill Barton
The University of Auckland

Please note:
This seminar takes place at the Institute of Education Main Building, 20 Bedford Way.

A century ago, in 1908, Felix Klein's lectures on mathematics for secondary teachers were first published (in German). This comprehensive view of the field challenged both teachers and mathematicians to consider, from a perspective sensitive to both mathematical rigor and pedagogical practice, the relationship between mathematics as a school subject, and mathematics as a scientific discipline.

The intervening 100 years have witnessed many changes in mathematics - the crises in Foundations, the advent of computing, emergence of new fields, and resolutions of some major mathematical challenges. These have provoked major changes and challenges for school mathematics.

While Klein's writing remains a valuable source insight, it seems timely to revisit this terrain by linking the topics and approaches of senior secondary or undergraduate mathematics with the field of mathematics. This is an important challenge for both mathematicians and mathematics educators.

This presentation will put up for discussion the idea of a joint project between IMU and ICMI, to revisit this work in a contemporary context.

If you wish to attend, please Email Adrian Winchester: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it