Skip to main content

From Equations to Structures: Modes of Relevance of Abstract Algebra to School Mathematics as Viewed by Teacher Educators and Teachers

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Connecting Abstract Algebra to Secondary Mathematics, for Secondary Mathematics Teachers

Part of the book series: Research in Mathematics Education ((RME))

Abstract

This chapter examines what might be the relevance of a unique abstract algebra course to teaching secondary school mathematics. The course was especially designed for experienced Israeli secondary school teachers of mathematics. One of its aims was to make the course relevant to the teachers’ work, for which we defined several modes of relevance. Analysis of didactical materials designed by the participating teachers, in which they connected the mathematics learned in the abstract algebra course to the school curriculum and teaching, exemplifies contribution of studies in the abstract algebra course at the level of specific content (i.e., algebra), and at the more general epistemological level of the nature of mathematics.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Adler, J., Hossain, S., Stevenson, M., Clarke, J., Archer, R., & Grantham, B. (2014). Mathematics for teaching and deep subject knowledge: Voices of mathematics enhancement course students in England. Journal of Mathematics Teacher Education, 17(2), 129–148.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baldinger, E. (2013). Connecting abstract algebra to high school algebra. In M. Martinez & A. Castro Superfine (Eds.), Proceedings of the 35th annual meeting of the North American chapter of the International Group for the Psychology of mathematics education (pp. 733–736). Chicago, IL: University of Illinois at Chicago.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barton, B., & Paterson, J. (2009). Teachers learning mathematics: Professional development research. Report of a TLRI project. Wellington: NZ Council for Educational Research Retrieved from: http://tlri.org.nz/sites/default/files/projects/9256-FinalReport.pdf

    Google Scholar 

  • Christy, D., & Sparks, R. (2015). Abstract algebra to secondary school algebra: Building bridges. Journal of Mathematics Education at Teachers College, 6(2), 37–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dreher, A., Lindmeier, A., & Heinze, A. (2016). Conceptualizing professional content knowledge of secondary teachers taking into account the gap between academic and school mathematics. In C. CsĂ­kos, A. Rausch, & J. Szitányi (Eds.), Proceedings of the 40th Conference of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education. PME: Szeged, Hungary.

    Google Scholar 

  • Even, R. (2011). The relevance of advanced mathematics to teaching secondary school mathematics: Practitioners’ views. ZDM, 43(6-7), 941–950.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Even, R., Artstein, Z., & Elbaum-Cohen, A. (2018). The Rothschild-Weizmann master's program for practicing mathematics teachers. In N. Movshovitz-Hadar (Ed.), K-12 mathematics education in Israel: Issues and challenges (Vol. 13, pp. 235–242). Singapore: World Scientific Publication. isbn:978-981-3231-18-4.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Klein, F. (1932). Elementary mathematics from an advanced standpoint: Arithmetic, algebra, analysis (Vol. 1, E. R. Hedrick & C. A. Noble, trans.). New York: Macmillan. (Original work published 1908).

    Google Scholar 

  • Murray, E., Baldinger, E., Wasserman, N., Broderick, S., White, D., Cofer, T., et al. (2015). Exploring connections between advanced and secondary mathematics. In T. G. Bartell, K. N. Bieda, R. T. Putnam, K. Bradfield, & H. Dominguez (Eds.), Proceedings of the 37th Annual Meeting of the North American Chapter of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education (pp. 1368–1376). East Lansing, MI: Michigan State University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steen, L. A. (1983). Developing mathematical maturity. In A. Ralston & G. S. Young (Eds.), The future of college mathematics (pp. 99–110). New York, NY: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Wasserman, N. (2016). Abstract algebra for algebra teaching: Influencing school mathematics instruction. Canadian Journal of Science Mathematics and Technology Education, 16(1), 28–47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wasserman, N. (2017). Making sense of abstract algebra: Exploring secondary teachers’ understanding of inverse functions in relation to its group structure. Mathematical Thinking and Learning, 19(3), 181–201.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu, H. (2011). The mis-education of mathematics teachers. Notices of the AMS, 58(3), 372–384.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zazkis, R., & Leikin, R. (2010). Advanced mathematical knowledge in teaching practice: Perceptions of secondary mathematics teachers. Mathematical Thinking and Learning, 12(4), 263–281.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ziegler, G. M., & Loos, A. (2014). Teaching and Learning “What is Mathematics.” Retrieved from: https://www.discretization.de/media/filer_public/2014/09/05/20140413icm-proceedings-ziegler.pdf

  • Zuo, H. & Leung, F. K. S. (2016). Senior secondary school teachers’ advanced mathematics knowledge and their teaching in china. Paper presented at the 13th International Congress on Mathematics Education.

    Google Scholar 

Course Bibliography

  • Bergen, J. (2010). A concrete approach to abstract algebra: From the integers to the insolvability of the quintic. Burlington, MA: Elsevier, Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Derbyshire, J. (2008). Unknown quantity: A real and imaginary history of algebra. London: Atlantic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaal, L. (1973). Classical Galois theory. New York, NY: Chelsea Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Isaacs, I. M. (1994). Algebra: A graduate course (Graduate studies in mathematics, volume 100). Providence, Rhode Island: American Mathematical Society.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacobson, N. (1985). Basic Algebra I. Mineola, New York: Dover Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lang, S. (1985). Algebra (Graduate texts in mathematics). Boston MA: Addison Wesley Publishing Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Livio, M. (2006). The equation that couldn't be solved: How mathematical genius discovered the language of symmetry. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Paperbacks.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shamash, J. (2010). Algebra: From equations to structures (course file). Rehovot, Israel: Rothschild-Weizmann Programme for M.Sc. in Science Education, Department of Science Teaching, Weizmann Institute of Science.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shamash, J. (2016). Algebra: From equations to structures (lecture notes). Rehovot, Israel: Rothschild-Weizmann Programme for M.Sc. in Science Education, Department of Science Teaching, Weizmann Institute of Science.

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh, S. (1999). The code book: The science of secrecy from ancient Egypt to quantum cryptography. New York, NY: Anchor Books, Random House Inc..

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Josephine Shamash .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Shamash, J., Barabash, M., Even, R. (2018). From Equations to Structures: Modes of Relevance of Abstract Algebra to School Mathematics as Viewed by Teacher Educators and Teachers. In: Wasserman, N. (eds) Connecting Abstract Algebra to Secondary Mathematics, for Secondary Mathematics Teachers. Research in Mathematics Education. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-99214-3_12

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-99214-3_12

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-99213-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-99214-3

  • eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics