Using open problems and cooperative methods in mathematics education

Abstract

Mathematics education is very country specific. Roughly speaking we can differentiate between two main styles in teaching mathematics: either the focus is on the students or the focus is on mathematics as a science. Hungarian mathematics teaching belongs to the second style. What can a teacher do in such tradition, are there chances to change the traditional boundaries? In our article we report about a teaching experience concentrating on the role of the teacher when changing the one-sided classroom teaching and also presenting students’ points of view in the changed teaching environment. Two aspects are taken into consideration in connection with mathematical problem solving: open problems and cooperative teaching.