I'm wondering if when we teach the Newton theorem is important to tell the students who was Newton. What kind of man he was, that he was born when Galileo died and so on.
Is this a way to interest the students and to understand that mathematics is done by mathematicians, that are men inside the society with a family a real life!
When we learned about poems we knew who the poet was. And mathematics is poem!
What do you think?
Yes, Mariano!!
Make sure that education becomes more enjoyable for students and teachers when we bring up issues related to life these great scholars! This also facilitates learning and reminds students to think about situations in which numerous theorems and axioms were generated!
I agree that mathematics is a poem!
I think it is very important to give some information about the scientist, especially if it is a bit odd, or unexpected. Newton was a very strange character, and made astonishing advances in mathematics and physics.
From a purely scientific standpoint his personal life is irrelevant, but from the point of view that a student sees the new material, the personal life aspects can make the learning process more colourful. Without it, one runs the risk of teaching a collection of rather dry sounding facts. Personal life gives context to a discovery and can tell a student something about the motivation of the researcher.
Science is a human endeavour!
Students depend on teachers to use their time (nearly 20 years' worth) in the most enrichingly engaged manner possible. To give credit to the time students spend studying and writing up on, for example, the life of Sir Isaac Newton, not only places his importance and the subject matter in context for the student, but synergistically interests students more in successfully attempting and completing otherwise rote or mundane exercises while increasing understanding, stimulating fuller critical analysis, original thought, and even creative solutions, as would be reflected in their work and participation. Sir Isaac Newton said he stood on the shoulders of giants. Who would he be referring to and what were their discoveries relevant to Newton's path and, from Newton's time, who referenced him in their discoveries up to the present time of the student's arrival and, with this background clarity applied to solving practical problems, what if anything would the student and their future add to once again history? To guide students in such an endeavor, it would be okay in fact incumbent to suggest these discoverers most relevant to the Newtonian concepts under study.
Cj Nev: Thanks a lot for the quotation.
How it is important to sit on the shoulders of giants!
Isaac Newton made many scientific discoveries and inventions throughout his career. It is good to spread the knowledge of his discovery, achievement and science to new generation in order to develop a passion toward science and innovation.
Very impressive discussion that provoked valuable and challenging comments from our RG colleagues
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