Teaching Huygens in the rue Huygens: Introducing the history of 17th- century mathematics in a junior secondary school (Q1310986)

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Teaching Huygens in the rue Huygens: Introducing the history of 17th- century mathematics in a junior secondary school
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    Teaching Huygens in the rue Huygens: Introducing the history of 17th- century mathematics in a junior secondary school (English)
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    19 May 1994
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    Aiming at improving the process of mathematics teaching in junior high schools, the author describes her experimental project, developed with 13-14 year old pupils, the main objective pursued being to give them the motivation of learning mathematics. ... So, ``mathematics is freedom'' (G. Cantor). The start involved a historical approach of the problem; consequently, a brief historical survey of the science was made (``The history of science must be our first guide'', as Poincaré has put it). Texts of prime importance (Leibniz, Huygens, Fermat) were read in the class, within that part of the plan devoted to Mathematics in the 17th Century; the main mathematical discoveries of that time were discussed, such as projective geometry, notions of what was to become later the theory of probability, propagation of light and the theory of numbers. Contests were organized, a newspaper was drawn up, an important exhibition was presented, all involving pupils. The experiment was resumed the following year, with many of the former participants, investigating mainly Huygens' Descriptio Planetarum; the main objectives were: introducing of continued fractions, the idea that machine building is based on mathematical knowledge, the importance of exchanges of correspondence among mathematicians, for a reciprocal challenging of ideas and suggestions.
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    mathematics education
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    Leibniz
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    Huygens
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    Fermat
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