This book reflects current thinking about the content of elementary school mathematics and the ways in which it should be presented to children. It is designed for preservice and inservice teachers, with a theoretical basis in the work of Piaget, Dienes, Gagne, and Skemp. Through carefully sequenced activities, children first develop their understanding of mathematical concepts, principles, and the operations to which they apply. Upon achieving this understanding, children then learn the skills they need to use mathematics effectively in a wide variety of situations.

Technology is becoming more and more integrated in mathematics teaching and the use of technology is explicitly demanded by the curricula. Technology can be for example integrated while conceptualizing parameters of quadratic functions. In this thesis three technical visualizations (classic function plotter, drag mode, and sliders) for the manipulation of parameters of quadratic functions shall be compared with an access without the possibility of technical visualization. For this purpose, a Guided Discovery environment was developed, which was conducted in an intervention study with 14 classes of grade 9 (N=383). Different strengths and weaknesses of the individual visualizations in favor of the dynamic visualizations by drag mode and slider are shown. Also, different potentials and constraints of the use of technology are visible, for example the students use the technology to test their own hypotheses that were generated through the use of technology. The author Lisa Göbel completed her dissertation as a research assistant under Prof. Dr. Bärbel Barzel in the Mathematics Education department at the University of Duisburg-Essen. Her interests include functional thinking and the use of technology in mathematics teaching.

This important resource introduces a framework for 21st Century learning that maps out the skills needed to survive and thrive in a complex and connected world. 21st Century content includes the basic core subjects of reading, writing, and arithmetic-but also emphasizes global awareness, financial/economic literacy, and health issues. The skills fall into three categories: learning and innovations skills; digital literacy skills; and life and career skills. This book is filled with vignettes, international examples, and classroom samples that help illustrate the framework and provide an exciting view of twenty-first century teaching and learning. Explores the three main categories of 21st Century Skills: learning and innovations skills; digital literacy skills; and life and career skills Addresses timely issues such as the rapid advance of technology and increased economic competition Based on a framework developed by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21) The book contains a video with clips of classroom teaching. For more information on the book visit www.21stcenturyskillsbook.com.