On the Understanding of Mathematics

Hans Georg Schaathun

NTNU, Noregs Teknisk-Naturvitskaplege Universitet

SEFI MWG 17-18 June 2021

Understanding or Rote Learning

Can't you just give us a formula, so that we can start to understand?

Human computers in the NACA High Speed Flight Station "Computer Room," at the Dryden Flight Research Center Facilities. (Wikimedia Commons)

Alan Schoenfeld 1998.jpg

By George M. Bergman,CC BY-SA 4.0,Link

Necessity of Understanding

Nature of Understanding

Leena Ruuskanen / CC BY

understanding is a transformation

Process of Understanding

understanding arise from tension

Lived Mathematics

Alfred North Whitehead, OM FRS[1] (15 February 1861 – 30 December 1947), English mathematician and philosopher. Photo byRichard Carver Woodtaken in 1936 for Harvard University

Cover or not to Cover

inert ideas

Freedom to Learn

Carl Ransom Rogers

Wikimedia CommonsCC BY 2.5

How to succeed as a student?

  • Copy the teacher?
  • Or innovative and unique?

Questions? Answers? Remarks?