A Study On The Contents Of Mathematical Models In Biology Textbooks In British High Schools

Biomathematics model, as a tool to help students analyze and solve problems, and understand the structure of knowledge, is frequently used in high school textbooks; besides, it is widely applied in high school biology teaching to cultivate students’ability of abstract thinking and information conversion. This paper intends to explore the application of mathematical model of British teaching materials in China’s teaching material development and biology teaching, through the study of mathematical model in high school AQA biology textbook in Britain.This study mainly adopts content analysis, literature study, and inductive method to summarize the amount, classification, characteristics, and applications of mathematical models in high school AQA biology textbook in Britain. Besides, it adopts case study to analyze and explore the application of British high school AQA biology textbook in China’s biology teaching.The research shows that there are altogether 167 mathematical models in high school AQA biology textbook in Britain, including 76 in the AS part and 91 in the A2 part. In the two British textbooks, most are curve models, and curve models and table models account for more than half of the total number of mathematical models. Mathematical models in A2 textbook are slightly more than that in AS.Different mathematical tools are applied in different models, based on which the mathematical models in British AQA biology textbooks can be divided into seven types: equation model, formula model, curve model, table model, scale model, geometric graph model, and probability model.Through analysis, it is found that he mathematical models in British AQA biology textbooks are of the following characteristics:(1) large amount and various categories; (2) large amount of information, and complex structure; (3) a variety of mathematical models are integrated in the same knowledge point; (4) in close contact with life.There are a lot of mathematical models in British AQA biology textbooks,these models have three main functions:(1)Help teaching,make abstract indicators quantitative;(2)Solve the difficulty, make the concepts concrete;(3)To compare and summarize,make knowledge systematization.In the end, this paper combines with the findings to discuss the inspiration and advice for China’s high school textbook compilation:(1) appropriately increase the number and variety of mathematical models; (2) appropriately increase the amount of information contained in the mathematical models; (3) try to set different types of mathematical models in the same knowledge point. In addition, it discusses the inspiration and advice for China’s biology teaching and learning:(1) appropriately use sophisticated mathematical models in teaching process; (2) combine a variety of mathematical models in usual teaching practice; (3) guide students to build their own mathematical model in the teaching process.