Open AccessThe aims of teaching mathematics: mathematical literacy vs mathematical reasoning
Author(s) -
Rimas Norvaiša
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
lietuvos matematikos rinkinys
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2335-898X
pISSN - 0132-2818
DOI - 10.15388/lmr.2020.22472
Subject(s) - mathematics education , reform mathematics , connected mathematics , core plus mathematics project , computer science , mathematics
We discuss different alternatives of the content of school mathematics. According to the prevalent public opinion in Lithuania school mathematics can be oriented either to the academic mathematics or to the applications of mathematics. In reality the second alternative means lowering of the level of teaching in the hope that school mathematics will be accessible to all students. While the content oriented to the academic school mathematics is accessible only to gifted students. In this article we describe a middle alternative content which we call school mathematics based on mathematical reasoning. We argue that such school mathematics serves all students and makes acquaintance with mathematical reasoning and with applications of mathematics to the real world. Reasoning makes mathematics reasonable for all.