Collaboration | Competition
Editor's Note
WISAARKHU aims to provide a diversity, not necessarily a jointly exhaustive collection, of perspectives on a chosen theme related to the learning and teaching of Mathematics. It is a magazine for inspiring, for creating awareness, for sharing experiences, for communicating, for connecting, and for reflecting.
It is not a research journal. It does not purport to endorse any particular opinion or approach to the learning and teaching of mathematics. Its readership is intended for all from across the globe with an interest in mathematics.
Each perspective expressed in the content of WISAARKHU is that of the author. It does not purport to reflect the opinions of the editor or Stellenbosch University or the affiliations of the authors. Each theme aligned with one of the quarterly Psychology of Abstract Mathematics discussions. The choice of each discussion theme is inspired by a challenge encountered in the learning and teaching of mathematics;
In this way the theme ‘Competition or Collaboration in Mathematics’ evolved for the first volume of WISAARKHU. There are four topics each speaking to a sub-theme of the overall theme that evolved from the contributions, namely, perspectives within and beyond mathematics, voices of students, impact on the self, influence on learning and teaching of mathematics. Throughout the magazine you will meet students, mathematicians, teachers, psychologists, educationalists, and others interested in mathematics.
No matter your interest in or experience of Mathematics, I hope you will read this magazine acknowledging the intention with which it has been written.
Prof. Ingrid Rewitzky
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
TOPIC 1: Perspectives Across Disciplines
Video summary done by Mieke Verster
Reflecting on competition
JIs it possible to neither accept nor reject the notion of competition? Zurab Janelidze approaches competition from the perspective of abstract mathematics. Read more
Is there a place for competition in mathematics?
Context matters. Jonathan Jansen explains why mathematics teachers should use their professional judgement when it comes to co-operative versus competitive learning. Read more
“No one enters here if he is not a geometer”
Laurent Neveu-Marques delves into the historical relationship between philosophy and mathematics and argues for continuous metaphysical reflection. Read more
Competition and Collaboration in Mathematics: A Case Study
Jacques Rabie makes the case for collaboration in Mathematics by comparing the approaches of two mathematicians, 16th century Niccolo Fontana and 20th century Paul Erdős, and looking at the impact each one’s approach made on the progress of Mathematics. Read more
How neuroscience help us to understand numerical and mathematical cognition
In this contribution, Christine Marques discusses how neuroscience can contribute to Mathematics education by better understanding the cognitive processes involved in mathematical performance. Read more
On the History of Proving False ‘Theorems’
Despite its inhumanly pristine appearance in textbooks and the classroom, mathematics is a human endeavour, sometimes stimulated by debate and controversy. Read more
Table of Contents
TOPIC 2: What Do Students Say?
Video summary done by Mieke Verster
Postgraduate studies and research are complex endeavours
Pursuing a PhD and finding your supervisor is not for the faint-hearted. Yet in this article, Mridul Ghosh writes how tenacity and patience got him where he is today. Read more
The Hidden Message of Mathematics
In this article Cayla shares her passion for mathematics. She celebrates the skill of critical thinking that learning mathematics can help us develop. She encourages us to unlock the hidden message of mathematics and see the beauty in it.Read more
Break a leg with Math’s
Emmanuel David Maforo describes his personal stigma, path and way to improving math learning. He shares how to break a leg with maths. Read more
About the Cover
The portrait was hand-painted by Nino Mekanarishvili.
Human minds are beautiful and very different from each other. Competition, human interaction and such things come from both our minds and our feelings, and that is the beauty of it.
The design contains imperfect symmetries that relate mathematics, art and life with each other. The same portrait in different styles (pointillism, realism and cubism) symbolises the competition in art.
TOPIC 3: Making a Case for the Better Self
The lessons Mathematics has taught me
Philip tells us the life lessons that he picked up while focusing on mathematics at high school, and how valuable this has proven now, and will be in the future.Read more
Warrior in the garden
What lessons can be learned from the great Chinese military strategist and philosopher Sun-Tzu and his book The Art of War? Tristan Barnard shares how Sun-Tzu’s philosophy has helped him face higher education and Mathematics.Read more
TOPIC 4: On Teaching Mathematics
The lessons Mathematics has taught me
Philip tells us the life lessons that he picked up while focusing on mathematics at high school, and how valuable this has proven now, and will be in the future.Read more
Warrior in the garden
What lessons can be learned from the great Chinese military strategist and philosopher Sun-Tzu and his book The Art of War? Tristan Barnard shares how Sun-Tzu’s philosophy has helped him face higher education and Mathematics.Read more
Editor's Note
WISAARKHU aims to provide a diversity, not necessarily a jointly exhaustive collection, of perspectives on a chosen theme related to the learning and teaching of Mathematics. It is a magazine for inspiring, for creating awareness, for sharing experiences, for communicating, for connecting, and for reflecting.
It is not a research journal. It does not purport to endorse any particular opinion or approach to the learning and teaching of mathematics. Its readership is intended for all from across the globe with an interest in mathematics.
Each perspective expressed in the content of WISAARKHU is that of the author. It does not purport to reflect the opinions of the editor or Stellenbosch University or the affiliations of the authors.
Each theme aligned with one of the quarterly Psychology of Abstract Mathematics discussions. The choice of each discussion theme is inspired by a challenge encountered in the learning and teaching of mathematics;
In this way the theme ‘Competition or Collaboration in Mathematics’ evolved for the first volume of WISAARKHU. There are four topics each speaking to a sub-theme of the overall theme that evolved from the contributions, namely, perspectives within and beyond mathematics, voices of students, impact on the self, influence on learning and teaching of mathematics. Throughout the magazine you will meet students, mathematicians, teachers, psychologists, educationalists, and others interested in mathematics.
No matter your interest in or experience of Mathematics, I hope you will read this magazine acknowledging the intention with which it has been written.
Prof. Ingrid Rewitzky
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
