Practical Problems as Tools for the Development of Secondary School Students’ Motivation to Learn Mathematics

This article discusses plausible reasoning use for solution to practical problems. Such reasoning is the major driver of motivation and implementation of mathematical, scientific and educational research activity. A general, practical problem solving algorithm is presented which includes an analysis of specific problem content to build, solve and interpret the underlying mathematical model. The author explores the role of practical problems such as the stimulation of students' interest, the development of their world outlook and their orientation in the modern world at the different stages of learning mathematics in secondary school. Particular attention is paid to the characteristics of those problems which were systematized and presented in the conclusions.





References:
[1] P. T Apanasov, N. P. Apanasov, Collection of math problems with practical content -M: Education, 1987.
[2] М. B. Balk, V.A. Petrov, About the mathematization of problems arising in practice // Mathematics at school – 1986.– №3, pp. 55–57.
[3] I. I. Blekhman, etc. Mechanics and Applied Mathematic. Logic and applications of mathematics–М.: Science, 1983.
[4] R. Courant, H. Robbins, What is Mathematics? An elementary approach to ideas and methods-London: Oxford University Press Incorporated, 1996, p. 592.
[5] H. Freudenthal, Mathematics as an Educational Task. - Dordrecht-Holland: D. Reidel Publishing Company, 1973, p. 693.
[6] L.C. Karpinsky, H. Y. Benedict, J. W. Calhoun, Unified Mathematics. – Boston-New York-Chicago: D. C. HEATH & CO., 1918, p. 522.
[7] M. Kline, Mathematics. The Loss of Certainty.- New York: Oxford University Press, 1980, p. 366.
[8] A. D. Myshkis, M. M. Shamsutdinov, Methods of applied mathematics // Mathematics at school – 1998.– №2, pp.12–14.
[9] A. Ovezov Applying mathematical reasoning // Mathematics at school – 1991.– №4, pp.45–48.
[10] G. Polya, Mathematics and Plausible Reasoning: Induction and analogy in mathematics. - Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1954, p. 280.
[11] M. Rodionov, The Formation and development of students motivation.- Saransk: MGPI, p. 252.
[12] I. Stewart, Concepts of Modern Mathematics. - New York: Dover Publications, 1995, p. 352.
[13] N. A. Tereshin, Applied orientation of school mathematics– M.: Education, 1990.
[14] A. N. Tikhonov, D. P. Kostomarov, Stories about applied mathematics- М.: Science, 1991.
[15] G. M. Wozniak, The motivation problem in education // Mathematics at school –1990.– №2, pp. 9–11.