The role of the teacher in teaching proof and proving in geometry

Jones, Keith (2010) The role of the teacher in teaching proof and proving in geometry. Proceedings of the British Society for Research into Learning Mathematics, 30 (2), 62-67.

Record type: Article

Abstract

It remains the case that the geometry component of the school mathematics curriculum is viewed as providing key opportunities for teachers to develop learners’ capacity for deductive reasoning and proving (as well as their spatial and visualisation capabilities). Nevertheless international research consistently shows that teaching the key ideas of proof and proving to all students is not an easy task. Through a consideration of an example of classroom teaching, this paper scrutinises a selection of theoretical frameworks that may afford greater insight into, and greater explanatory power on, the role of the teacher in the teaching of proof and proving in geometry. The brief sketches provided of three relevant theoretical frameworks (the theory of socio-mathematical norms, the theory of teaching with variation, and the theory of instructional exchanges) illustrate the fact that there is much scope for further suitably designed research studies.

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