Learning and Teaching Mathematics using Simulations

The author takes a highly practical approach to facilitating the insight essential for true learning in mathematics. Students can work directly with the simulation programs, can visualize relationships, and creatively interact with the calculation procedures. Proceeding in textbook fashion, the work makes use of a broad palette of multimedia tools, and features numerous interactive calculation programs for mathematical experimentation. Students merely have to select one of the many predefined examples and set the relevant parameters - and in a flash the results are graphically displayed in 2 or 3 dimensions. In addition, the specific functions used can be changed or even newly formulated according to user preferences. For example, a procedure developed for a fourth degree power function for the numerical calculation of zero points can be adapted for use with another function. Each simulation is accompanied by a detailed description, instructions for use, and numerous suggestions for experimentation. The mathematical simulations are based on the Easy Java Simulation (EJS) programming tool. All of the files developed with EJS are completely open and transparent. The user can even draw on the examples as building blocks for the development his or her own calculation procedures. The appendix contains a short introduction to EJS.

The work is enriched by a comprehensive collection of cosmological simulations as well as models from the Open Source Physics project, organized by subject area. Intended as a systematic collection of methods and materials for upper-secondary school teachers and as a course for students of physics and mathematics, the work facilitates hands-on and experiment-driven learning in higher mathematics.

The print version contains the electronic text and simulations for offline use. For questions concerning download or online access to the simulations, please contact service@degruyter.com.