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Selected Writings from the Journal of the Mathematics Council of the Alberta Teachers’ Association: Celebrating 50 Years (1962-2012) of delta-K

Selected Writings from the Journal of the Mathematics Council of the Alberta Teachers’ Association

Celebrating 50 Years (1962-2012) of delta-K

Edited by Egan J Chernoff and Gladys Sterenberg

A volume in The Montana Mathematics Enthusiast

Bharath Sriraman, Series Editor

The teaching and learning of mathematics in Alberta – one of three Canadian provinces sharing a border with Montana – has a long and storied history. An integral part of the past 50 years (1962-2012) of this history has been delta-K: Journal of the Mathematics Council of the Alberta Teachers’ Association. This volume, which presents ten memorable articles from each of the past five decades, that is, 50 articles from the past 50 years of the journal, provides an opportunity to share this rich history with a wide range of individuals interested in the teaching and learning of mathematics and mathematics education. Each decade begins with an introduction, providing a historical context, and concludes with a commentary from a prominent member of the Alberta mathematics education community. As a result, this monograph provides a historical account as well as a contemporary view of many of the trends and issues in the teaching and learning of mathematics. This volume is meant to serve as a resource for a variety of individuals, including teachers of mathematics, mathematics teacher educators, mathematics education researchers, historians, and undergraduate and graduate students. Most importantly, this volume is a celebratory retrospective on the work of the Mathematics Council of the Alberta Teachers’ Association.

i

Front Matter

xiii

The MCATA Constitution

xv

Foreword

Marj Farris and Florence Glanfield

xix

Preface

Egan J. Chernoff and Gladys Sterenberg

xxv

Introduction

Gladys Sterenberg and Egan J. Chernoff

1

1960s: The ’60s – Eventful and Memorable

Werner Liedtke

7

[1962] On Geometry

L. W Kunelius

9

[1962] “Polyan” Mathematics

H. F McCall

15

[1963] Overview of Change: Or a Look at the Forest Before We Can’t See It for the Trees

E. A. Krider

19

[1963] Can High School Students Learn Some of the Concepts of Modern Mathematics?

Nora Chell and W. F. Coulson

25

[1965] Discovery or Programming

William F. Coulson

29

[1965]  What Is Modern Mathematics?

Elizabeth Caleski

33

[1969] A Coordinated Review of Recent Research Conducted in the Department of Elementary Education University of Alberta Relevant to Mathematics Education

W G. Cathcart and W. W. Liedtke

43

[1969] Using the Overhead Projector: Some Random Notes

Murray R. Falk

47

[1969] Some New Math in Old Ruts

H. L. Larson

51

[1969] Researcher in the Classroom: Reading in the Field of Mathematics

R. W. Cleveland

57

Commentary: Mathematics Teaching and Learning in the 1960s as Reflected in delta-K

Tom Kieren

75

1970s: Introduction to Mathematics Teaching and Learning in the 1970s

Klaus Puhlmann

81

[1970] Mathematical Preparation of Alberta Math Teachers

Donald O. Nelson

85

[1970] The Current Status of High School Calculus

Murray R. Falk

93

[1971] “New Math” Sparks Lively Debate

Saskatchewan Bulletin

97

[1971] What is CAMT?

H. J. Promhouse

101

[1974] More To It Than You Think

Marion Loring

105

[1975] 1.4 Kilograms of Hamburger and a Liter of Milk Please

S. A. Lindstedt

109

[1975] The Teaching and Learning of Secondary School Mathematics

H. W Van Brummelen

121

[1976] Basics in Junior High

Bernie Biedron

125

[1977] Thanks for Your Response: Editor’s Report on Calculator Questionnaire

Ed Carriger

129

[1979] Researcher in the Classroom: Constructive Rational Number Tasks

T. E. Kieren

141

Commentary: Mathematics Education in the 1970s: A Retroperspective

David Pimm

155

1980s: Mathematics Education in Alberta in the 1980s

Len Bonifacio

161

[1980] Statistics in the High School

Dennis G. Haack

167

[1980] An Alternative Course for the “I Hate Math and I’ve Never Been Any Good At lt” Student

Elaine V. Alton and Judith L. Gersting

173

[1984] Expecting Girls to Be Poor in Math: Alternatively, Chance for a New Start

Gordon Nicol

177

[1986] A Constructivist Approach to Teaching Mathematics

Sol E. Sigurdson

185

[1988] If This Is Television, Shouldn’t My Intelligence Be Insulted?

Kate Le Maistre

189

[1988] Logo: An Opportunity for Synthesis, Self-Control and Sharing

J. Dale Burnett

201

[1988] Readability: A Factor in Textbook Evaluation

Yvette M. d’Entremont

207

[1988] Combining Literature and Mathematics: Ma king Math Books and Finding Math Concepts in Books

Bernard R. Yvon and Jane Zaitz

215

[1989] Psychology in Teaching Mathematics

Marlow Ediger

221

[1984] Researcher in the Classroom: The Development of Problem-Solving Skills: Some Suggested Activities (Part II)

John B. Percevault

229

Commentary: 1980s: An Agenda in Action, A Decade of Change

A. Craig Loewen

235

1990s: The Dawn of the Information Age

Daryl Smith

239

[1990] It’s All Greek to Me: Math Anxiety

Darlene Hubber

245

[1992] Moving Out of the Comfort Zone

Marie Hauk and Bryan Quinn

255

[1993] Learning About Computers and Mathematics: A Student Perspective

Craig M. Findlay

263

[1995] Building a Professional Memory: Articulating Knowledge About Teaching Mathematics

Barry Onslow and Art Geddis

269

[1995] Enhancing Mathematics Teaching in the Context of the Curriculum and Professional Standards of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

Klaus Puhlmann

283

[1996] Computers in Classrooms: Essential Learning Tool… or Program for Disaster?

Alison Dickie

289

[1996] Mathematics as Problem Solving – A Japanese Way

Daiyo Sawada

297

[1998] Western Canadian Protocol: The Common Curriculum Framework (K-12 Mathematics)

Hugh Sanders and Gina Vivone-Vernon

305

[1999] Multiculturalism and Equities Issues: Selected Experiences and Reflections

Werner W. Liedtke

311

[1990] Researcher in the Classroom: Implementing Manipulatives in Mathematics Teaching

A. Craig Loewen

323

Commentary: delta-K in the 1990s: Learning Mathematics with Meaning

Elaine Simmt

335

2000s: Some Mentions in the Aughts

Mark Mercer

341

[2000] Enhancing Numeracy in the Early Years

Werner W Liedtke

351

[2003] Teaching Mathematics for Peace

David Wagner

357

[2005] Emergent Insights into Mathematical Intelligence from Cognitive Science

Brent Davis

377

[2006] Secondary Mathematics Education Curriculum Developments: Reflecting on Canadian Trends

Florence Glanfield

383

[2006] Noticing as a Form of Professional Development in Teaching Mathematics

Julie S Long

389

[2008] Textbooks in Mathematics Learning: The Potential for Misconceptions

Ann Kajander and Miroslav Lovric

395

[2008] Rationale Gone Missing: A Comparative and Historical Curriculum Search

Lynn McGarvey

403

[2009] Perceptions of Problem Solving in Elementary Curriculum

Jennifer Holm

417

[2010] To Become Wise to the World Around Us: Multiple Perspectives of Relating Indigenous Knowledges and Mathematics Education

Gladys Sterenberg, Liz Barrett, Narcisse Blood, Florence Glanfield,
Lisa Lunney Borden, Theresa McDonnell, Cynthia Nicol,
and Harley Weston

433

[2009] Researcher in the Classroom: Developing Inquiry-Based Teaching Through Lesson Study

Olive Chapman, Krista Letts, and Lynda MacLellan

447

Commentary: Mathematics Education for the Twenty-First Century

Olive Chapman

459

Final Commentary: Looking Back on Our Selected Writings from Fifty Years of delta-K

Egan J. Chernoff and Gladys Sterenberg