Mathematical Modelling Teaching and Assessment in a Technology Rich World

Citation

(2001), "Mathematical Modelling Teaching and Assessment in a Technology Rich World", Kybernetes, Vol. 30 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/k.2001.06730bae.002

Mathematical Modelling Teaching and Assessment in a Technology Rich World

Mathematical Modelling Teaching and Assessment in a Technology Rich World

P. Galbraith, W. Blum, G. Booker and Ian D. HuntleyHarwood Publishing Ltd.1998344 pp.ISBN 1-898563-42-XPrice: £37.50

Keywords: Publication, Cybernetics, Modelling

This book is a collection of the papers presented at the ICTMA International Conference on the Teaching of Mathematical Modelling and Applications, which is regarded as an important conference in this area. The book is a compilation of the proceedings of ICTMA-8, which was held in Brisbane in 1997. Although the event was held some three years ago it is not considered "out of date", particularly as one independent reviewer says:

The mathematical modelling and applications of the conference title is very loosely interpreted leading to a very wide ranging book which contains some surprising contributions.

An example of this was "Cognitive difficulties related to the understanding of the Definition of Group". We are told that there is a broad spread of approaches in the papers that have been chosen for publication. This will make the book more readable and of greater use to cyberneticians with interests in mathematical modelling as well as the educational aspects of presenting the subject to their students and postgraduate researchers. The book is in five sections:

1. 1.

   Teaching and learning contexts.

2. 2.

   Technology-enriched approaches.

3. 3.

   Real world applications.

4. 4.

   Assessment.

5. 5.

   National contexts.

One reviewer believes the book is really for those "who are in education". Others are of the opinion that it is a text worth having because of the subject itself and the variety of papers it contains. Perhaps potential readers require to browse in their nearest academic library and examine a copy before finally deciding to buy or recommend for their own or institutional library.