• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.1-23
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• 2006

It is regarded as critical to analyse and re-appreciate Euclidean geometry for the sake of improving school geometry This study, a critical analysis of demonstrative plane geometry in current secondary school mathematics with an eye to the viewpoints of 'Elements of Geometry', is conducted with this purpose in mind. Firstly, the 'Elements' is analysed in terms of its educational purpose, concrete contents and approaching method, with a review of the history of its teaching. Secondly, the 'Elemens de Geometrie' by Clairaut and the 'histo-genetic approach' in teaching geometry, mainly the one proposed by Branford, are analysed. Thirdly, the basic assumption, contents and structure of the current textbooks taught in secondary schools are analysed according to the hypothetical construction, ordering and grouping of theorems, presentations of proofs, statements of definitions and exercises. The change of the development of contents over time is also reviewed, with a focus on the proportional relations of geometric figures. Lastly, tile complementary way of integrating the two 'Elements' is explored.

• Bulletin of the Korean Mathematical Society
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.1887-1892
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• 2016

It is well known that the helicoids are the only ruled minimal surfaces in ${\mathbb{R}}^3$. The similar characterization for ruled minimal surfaces can be given in many other 3-dimensional homogeneous spaces. In this note we consider the product space $M{\times}{\mathbb{R}}$ for a 2-dimensional manifold M and prove that $M{\times}{\mathbb{R}}$ has a nontrivial minimal surface ruled by horizontal geodesics only when M has a Clairaut parametrization. Moreover such minimal surface is the trace of the longitude rotating in M while translating vertically in constant speed in the direction of ${\mathbb{R}}$.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.409-424
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• 2002

The historico-genetic principle has been advocated continuously, as an alternative one to the traditional deductive method of teaching and learning mathematics, by Clairaut, Cajori, Smith, Klein, Poincar$\'{e}$, La Cour, Branford, Toeplitz, etc. since 18C. And recently we could find various studies in relation to the historico-genetic principle. Lakatos', Freudenthal's, and Brousseau's are representative in them. But they are different from the previous historico- genetic principle in many aspects. In this study, the previous historico- genetic principle is called as classical historico- genetic principle and the other one as modern historico-genetic principle. This study shows that the differences between them arise from the historical views of mathematics and the development of the theories of mathematics education. Dewey thinks that education is a constant reconstruction of experience. This study shows the historico-genetic principle could us embody the Dewey's psycological method. Bruner's discipline-centered curriculum based on Piaget's genetic epistemology insists on teaching mathematics in the reverse order of historical genesis. This study shows the real understaning the structure of knowledge could not neglect the connection with histogenesis of them. This study shows the historico-genetic principle could help us realize Bruner's point of view on the teaching of the structure of mathematical knowledge. In this study, on the basis of the examination of the development of the historico-genetic principle, we try to stipulate the principle more clearly, and we also try to present teaching unit for the logarithm according to the historico- genetic principle.