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Progress Reports

Report on the Klein Project  (June 2009)

In 2008 IMU and ICMI commissioned a project to revisit the intent of Felix Klein when he wrote Elementary Mathematics from an Advanced Standpoint.  That is, to produce a book for secondary teachers that communicates the breadth and vitality of the research discipline of mathematics and connects it to the senior secondary school curriculum.

The international Design Team for the project met recently.  The team confirmed the production of a 300-page book written to inspire teachers to present to their students a more complete picture of the growing and interconnected field represented by the mathematical sciences in today's world.  We expect this will be backed up by web, print, and DVD resources.  The project is expected to take about four years.

The book will be neither comprehensive, nor definitive of the field.  Whatever chapter structure is chosen, the text will emphasise links between branches of the field and generic themes (such as the impact of computing).  Insights from mathematics education will not be addressed specifically but will be implicit in many places.

The Design Team seeks input from all those working in the mathematical sciences, researchers and educators alike. We welcome written communications, but will also be holding several "Klein conferences" around the world where feedback on draft ideas and material can be given, and original contributions offered.  The actual writing will be done by invited authors of proven experience in expert and inspiring authorship.  Anyone wishing to be on a mailing list to be kept up to date and receive draft material is invited to send an email in the first instance to the Chair of the Design Team, Bill Barton. A website is in the process of being established.

Comments are invited on the choice of Chapter titles (bearing in mind the comments above):

  • Introduction
  • Topic Chapters
    • Arithmetic
    • Logic
    • Algebra & Structures
    • Geometry
    • Functions & Analysis
    • Discrete & Algorithmic Mathematics
    • Mathematics of Computation
    • Probability & Statistics
  • Theme Chapters
    • Intradisciplinarity (i.e. internal connections)
    • Mathematics as a living discipline inside science and society
    • How mathematicians work