Teaching Higher Order Mathematics Through Graphics Programming

Julie DiBiase

Journal of Educational Computing Research, Vol. 15, No. 3, 1996, p. 261-281

Most of the underlying concepts that pervade what is typically referred to as "higher" mathematics are relegated to the arena of the mathematical elite. The research presented here demonstrates that, given the proper pedagogical environment, these concepts are quite accessible for early high school students. Through SchemePaint, a graphics enhanced computer programming language, students learned the mathematical notion that a function can be a data object. Further, students were able to apply their knowledge of unctions from within the graphics domain to solve novel mathematical problems. This work suggests the need for a more elaborate study of how such early conceptual introduction of advanced material may preclude some of the problems that have been documented to pervade the later stages of students' academic career.

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