Study Of The Educational Value Of Mathematical Classics

Mathematics is the essence of the collective wisdom of human beings. As the carriers of its development history, classics of mathematics are of profound influence on math education. Based on teaching practices,this paper is concerned with classics of mathematics and math education,discussing the value of classics of mathematics over education and the ways to reveal it.Firstly,classics of mathematics are taken as examples to analyze their respective features and brief their roles and influences on math history and education. This paper also explores the importance of reading classics of mathematics to teachers and the ways of reading them.Secondly, the author analyzes some existing problems in math education in China in terms of teaching purposes, textbooks and teaching practices, and puts forward his views on and solutions to them. Typical classics of mathematics are taken as examples to extensively explore and study their influences on math education theory,quality education, math education reform and innovation, teachers' professional capability and math culture,to explain the interaction between math education and classics of mathematics,and to emphasize the significance of the classics of mathematics to math education research.This paper may help us to better understand and utilize the educating function of classics of mathematics.Based on the above discussions, the author holds the point that the education value of classics of mathematics should be embodied in both textbooks and teaching practices, and puts forward his comments on and suggestions to the reform and reconstruction of math curriculum, which may be instructive to math teachers. Meanwhile,as an attempt of math education reform, the author takes the algorithm theory embodied in GeorgePolya's How to Solve It——A New Aspect of Mathematical Method and Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Procedures together with some ancient math problems as examples to study the relationship between classics of mathematics and math teaching through the practices of the combination of the two,data collection and teaching plan preparation.The author believes that apart from their instructive and reference roles,classics of mathematics will also enrich the activities in math classes. Their involvement will render the classes more natural and interesting, which is of great importance to the reform of math education.