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Journal ArticleDOI

The Mathematical Association

01 Aug 1926-American Mathematical Monthly (Informa UK Limited)-Vol. 33, Iss: 7, pp 343-344
About: This article is published in American Mathematical Monthly.The article was published on 1926-08-01. It has received 7 citations till now.
Citations
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01 Jan 1996
TL;DR: The design guidelines set forth in this thesis offer a method to make the access to complex information by blind people more usable, by addressing the themes of control of information flow and the lack of external memory.
Abstract: This thesis proposes a set of principles to aid the design of user interfaces that enable blind users to read complex information by listening. Prior to this work speech based interfaces tended to ‘read at’, rather than being read by the listener. By addressing the themes of control of information flow and the lack of external memory, a set of guidelines have been produced that transform the passive listener to an active reader. Prosody was used to add information to a spoken presentation of algebra in order to enhance its role as an external memory. A set of rules were developed that inserted prosodic cues for algebra into synthetic speech. An experiment found that these cues enhanced the recovery of syntactic structure; the recovery of content and reduced mental workload. A structure vbased browsing method and associated command language were used to add control over the information flow.An iterative cycle of design and evaluation allowed the development of a style of browsing that would allow the fast and accurate control needed for active reading. The final component of the system was an audio glance at the structure of an algebra expression. This was a combination of the prosodic rules that enabled presentation of structure and audio messages called earcons. Experiments were conducted that showed these algebra earcons were able to rapidly convey a suitable representation of an expression from which structural complexity and type could be judged, thus facilitating the planning of what browsing moves to use. The three components of the system wer drawn together and evaluated. A comparison was made with a conventional style of presentation. The new design was found to be more effective, efficient and satisfying by the users of the system. The design guidelines set forth in this thesis offer a method to make the access to complex information by blind people more usable.

60 citations

Journal Article
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a historical background and attempts to describe the paradigmatic shift in the use of computers in mathematics education from behavioristic oriented CAI movement towards constructivist based student programming movement.
Abstract: The purpose of this study is to review the changes that computers have on mathematics itself and on mathematics curriculum. The study aims at investigating different applications of computers in education in general, and mathematics education in particular and their applications on mathematics curriculum and on teaching and learning of mathematics. There are three broad categories of the applications of computers in the field of mathematics education: computer assisted instruction (CAI), student (educational) programming and general purpose educational tools such as spreadsheets, databases and computer algebra systems (CAS). This study presents a historical background and attempts to describe the paradigmatic shift in the use of computers in mathematics education from behavioristicly oriented CAI movement towards constructivist based student programming movement. INTRODUCTION The educational history of computers began in sixties with the realization of its potential to teaching and learning. That was a period of enchantment. According to Suppes et al. (1968) the change that was to come through computers could only be compared to the fact that how books had changed the way of people looking at the world. Computers would change the face of education in a very short period of time by eventually removing the teacher from the classroom scene. Looking in retrospect, can it really be said that his predictions were realized? Or is it just a "techno-romantism" (Underwood and Underwood, 1990) to believe that the computer is a panecea for all of the problems in education. Allthough not having been able to solve all of the problems of education by itself, this powerful machine, no doubt, will continue to occupy a very central place in education. A major figure in the history of computers, besides Suppes, in education is Seymour Papert who is famous for his work "Mindstorms" (1980) which presents quite revolutionary ideas about the place of the computers in education. He, like Suppes argued that the computer would change the face of education, but unlike Suppes he advocated the use of the computer not as a teaching machine but as a device to develop learners' intellectual skills through writing their own programs to direct the computer and not let the computer direct themselves. It seems that the effect of computer technology on education is greater in mathematics than in any other discipline. This may be because of the close links between the two disciplines. In fact the computer science was a part of mathematics and afterwards gained independence as a sole discipline. The purpose of this study is to review the changes that computers have on mathematics itself and on mathematics curriculum. The study aims at investigating the following questions: 1. What are different applications of computers in education in general, and mathematics education in particular? 2. What are the effects of these applications on mathematics curriculum and on teaching and learning of mathematics?

43 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examine the reasons behind the long-term appeal of Beatrix Potter's Tales, focusing particularly on the phenomenon of commodification, a term used to describe the transition of literary characters from the page to commercial merchandise.
Abstract: This article examines the reasons behind the long-term appeal of Beatrix Potter's Tales, whilst focusing particularly on the phenomenon of commodification. This term will be used to describe the transition of literary characters from the page to commercial merchandise. The place of such classic texts, both in the primary classroom and in our wider society, is considered in light of Potter's stable popularity, the qualities her texts offer young readers and the ways the texts have lent themselves to careful commodification - a process started by Beatrix Potter herself.

23 citations

Book ChapterDOI
01 Jan 1996
TL;DR: Geometry provides a domain in which to study and operationalise deductive methods and at the same time a means by which space can be explored inductively.
Abstract: Geometry provides a domain in which to study and operationalise deductive methods and at the same time a means by which space can be explored inductively. These opportunities arise from two characteristics of geometry, namely its logical structure and its potential for modelling the real world. The tension inherent in endeavouring to preserve a balance between these twin features is evident in the debates over many decades about the place of geometry in the school curriculum. A report on the teaching of geometry in schools in the UK in the 1960s suggested that “neither the subject matter to which attention is invited nor the operation to which the name of proof is given should retain a uniform character throughout the school age” (Mathematical Association 1963, p. 7).

8 citations

Dissertation
01 Jan 2010
TL;DR: This thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University 8/4/2010 and is based on a monograph published in “Philosopher’s Notebook: Foundations of Cognitive Neuroscience, 2nd Ed.
Abstract: This thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University 8/4/2010.

4 citations

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