Re: [xmca] Numbers - Natural or Real?

[Larry Purss <lpscholar2@gmail.com>]

Andy,

This is a wonderful question which i believe is full of possibility for
looking at certain basic ontological assumptions

A question I've been struggling with is the purpose of schools [as
institutions]?  Is there primary mandate to teach "scientific concepts" or
is the search for recognition more fundamental?

 I see a link between this question and your question on teaching numbers as
"activity" or "dialogue" [counting or rational]

Larry

On Thu, Jun 30, 2011 at 1:52 AM, Andy Blunden <ablunden@mira.net> wrote:

> I don't really have an opinion on this matter, but I would be interested in
> listening in on those who may have an informed opinion.
> I see two different approaches to the teaching of mathematics.
>
>   One takes the /Natural/ Numbers as the basic concept of the subject
>   The Other takes the /Rational/ Numbers as the basic concept of the
>   subject
>
>   One takes /counting/ as the basic Action
>   The Other takes /comparison/ of two lengths as the basic Action.
>
>   One situates the basic Action within a /Discourse/
>   The Other situates the basic Action within /Activity/
>
>   One is represented by /Anna Sfard /(see
>   https://www.msu.edu/~sfard/**Thinking%20as%20Communicating%**
> 20-%20First%20pages.doc<https://www.msu.edu/~sfard/Thinking%20as%20Communicating%20-%20First%20pages.doc>
> )
>   One is represented by /V V Davydov/ (eg
>   http://www.maa.org/devlin/**devlin_01_09.html<http://www.maa.org/devlin/devlin_01_09.html>
> )
>
> Now, I am not really interested in maths teaching, but I am interested in
> the relation between Discourse Analysis and Activity Theory. It seems to me
> that the two concepts, though different, are not at all incompatible.
> Perhaps practical experience with these two approaches would shed light on
> the relation between Discourse and Activity and how it could be best
> reflected in theory?
>
> Any thoughts my friends?
> Andy
>
> --
> ------------------------------**------------------------------**
> ------------
> *Andy Blunden*
> Joint Editor MCA: http://www.informaworld.com/**smpp/title~db=all~content=
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> Home Page: http://home.mira.net/~andy/
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