15 - Mathematics as a Constructive Activity: Exploiting Dimensions of Possible Variation

Summary

Introduction

Mathematics is often seen by learners as a collection of concepts and techniques for solving problems assigned as homework. Learners, especially in cognate disciplines such as engineering, computer science, geography, management, economics, and the social sciences, see mathematics as a toolbox on which they are forced to draw at times in order to pursue their own discipline. They want familiarity and fluency with necessary techniques as tools to get the answers they seek. For them, learning mathematics is seen as a matter of training behaviour sufficiently to be able to perform fluently and competently on tests, and to use mathematics as a tool when necessary.

Unfortunately this pragmatic and tool-based perspective may cut people off from the creative and constructive aspects of mathematics, making it more difficult for them to know when to use mathematics, or to be flexible in their use of it. On its own, this perspective can reinforce a cycle of de-motivation and disinclination. The result is a descending spiral of inattention, minimal investment of energy and time, and absence of appreciation and understanding, leaving learners disempowered from pursuing their discipline through the use of mathematics.

By contrast, mathematicians see mathematics as a domain of creativity and discovery in its articulation, proof, and application. Full appreciation of a mathematical topic includes the exposure of underlying structure as well as the distillation and abstraction of techniques that solve classes of problems, together with component concepts.