History Mathematics education

illustration @ beginning of 14th-century translation of euclid s elements.

in plato s division of liberal arts trivium , quadrivium, quadrivium included mathematical fields of arithmetic , geometry. structure continued in structure of classical education developed in medieval europe. teaching of geometry universally based on euclid s elements. apprentices trades such masons, merchants , money-lenders expect learn such practical mathematics relevant profession.

the first mathematics textbooks written in english , french published robert recorde, beginning grounde of artes in 1540. however, there many different writings on mathematics , mathematics methodology date 1800 bce. these located in mesopotamia sumerians practicing multiplication , division. there artifacts demonstrating own methodology solving equations quadratic equation. after sumerians of famous ancient works on mathematics come egypt in form of rhind mathematical papyrus , moscow mathematical papyrus. more famous rhind papyrus has been dated approximately 1650 bce thought copy of older scroll. papyrus textbook egyptian students.

in renaissance, academic status of mathematics declined, because associated trade , commerce. although continued taught in european universities, seen subservient study of natural, metaphysical , moral philosophy.

this trend reversed in seventeenth century, university of aberdeen creating mathematics chair in 1613, followed chair in geometry being set in university of oxford in 1619 , lucasian chair of mathematics being established university of cambridge in 1662. however, uncommon mathematics taught outside of universities. isaac newton, example, received no formal mathematics teaching until joined trinity college, cambridge in 1661.

in 18th , 19th centuries, industrial revolution led enormous increase in urban populations. basic numeracy skills, such ability tell time, count money , carry out simple arithmetic, became essential in new urban lifestyle. within new public education systems, mathematics became central part of curriculum age.

by twentieth century, mathematics part of core curriculum in developed countries.

during twentieth century, mathematics education established independent field of research. here of main events in development:

in 1893, chair in mathematics education created @ university of göttingen, under administration of felix klein
the international commission on mathematical instruction (icmi) founded in 1908, , felix klein became first president of organisation
the professional periodical literature on mathematics education in u.s.a. had generated more 4000 articles after 1920, in 1941 william l. schaaf published classified index, sorting them various subjects.
a renewed interest in mathematics education emerged in 1960s, , international commission revitalised
in 1968, shell centre mathematical education established in nottingham
the first international congress on mathematical education (icme) held in lyon in 1969. second congress in exeter in 1972, , after has been held every 4 years

in 20th century, cultural impact of electronic age (mcluhan) taken educational theory , teaching of mathematics. while previous approach focused on working specialized problems in arithmetic , emerging structural approach knowledge had small children meditating number theory , sets .