Title :
Potential application of fuzzy techniques to math education: Emphasizing paradoxes as a (seemingly paradoxical) way to enhance the learning of (strict) mathematics
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Teacher Educ., Univ. of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX
Abstract :
Classes are often taught in an authoritarian way, when students do not understand the need to study the material. So, a key to success is for a teacher to make sure that the students understand this need - before explaining the material itself. In mathematics, this need sometimes comes from practice; sometimes, from the fact that common sense treatment of the topics leads to contradictions (paradoxes) and therefore, a more formal treatment is needed. Our experience shows that explaining paradoxes like the irrationality of square root of 2 or paradoxes of set theory indeed enhances learning.
Keywords :
computer aided instruction; fuzzy logic; fuzzy set theory; mathematics computing; teaching; fuzzy logic; mathematics education; set theory; teaching; Education; Educational institutions; Feeds; Information technology; Mathematics; Set theory;
Conference_Titel :
Fuzzy Information Processing Society, 2008. NAFIPS 2008. Annual Meeting of the North American
Conference_Location :
New York City, NY
Print_ISBN :
978-1-4244-2351-4
Electronic_ISBN :
978-1-4244-2352-1
DOI :
10.1109/NAFIPS.2008.4531300