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Purpose and Significance: The purpose of this study is to analyse the contribution of an international interactive mathematics exhibition to the popularization of mathematics. The exhibition was born with the support of UNESCO and exhibited for the first time in 2004. It was composed of nine topics, from mathematical shapes in nature up to some famous proofs, and each topic was based on interactive hands on objects, pictures and demonstrations.
Many factors, such as disaffection from mathematics studies and students’ negative images of mathematics, show that nowadays the popularization of mathematics is an important concern. However, the effects of the actions aiming at popularization of mathematics have not really been studied. In this study, contributing to the knowledge about the effects of the popularization of mathematics actions is aimed.
Method: The study was designed using the case study approach. The exhibition took place in three cities -Eskisehir, Izmir and Ankara - and the data of this study came from the exhibition period of 28 days in Eskisehir. The data were collected mainly via a visitor’s book because of its potentiality to obtain authentic data and to access to the visitors’ feelings and opinions. The number of visitors and their occupations were also systematically registered in order to evaluate interest in exhibition and its potentiality to address a large mass of people. The visitors’ feelings and opinions about the exhibition were analyzed according to the categories carried out on the basis of their contents.
were primary education and college students. The exhibition was also visited by a significant number of preschool children, high school students, teachers and parents. In addition, from the first to the last week, the number of visitors regularly increased. 316 visitors signed the visitor’s book. Most of the visitors wrote down a general appreciation, opinion, suggestion and acknowledgement for the exhibition. However, more than a half of visitors, some of them also indicated a general appreciation, used expressions in the meaning of the popularization of mathematics. According to the categories carried out, these expressions were identified as related to the potentiality of the exhibition (1) to address a large mass of people, (2) to show the concrete and experimental aspect of mathematics, (3) to show the fun and attractive aspect of mathematics, (4) to contribute to the creative and analytical thinking, (5) to show the relation between mathematics and daily life, (6) to contribute to change views and attitudes towards mathematics. The content analysis indicated that the visitors’ expressions were full of authentic feelings and opinions about the exhibition, although they mostly concerned the potentiality of the exhibition to change views and attitudes towards mathematics. On the other hand, five visitors wrote down negative comments but only one of them concerned the content of the exhibition.
Discussion: The great and increasing number of visitors, and the distribution of this number among people of different ages, from the preschool children to parents, can be considered as a result of the potentiality of the exhibition to address a large masse, and as a result of its positive effect on the visitors. The visitors’ general appreciations and acknowledgements, and the happiness and surprise expressed by some visitors support this positive effect of the exhibition. In addition, the fact that the visitors’ views were not limited to general appreciations and acknowledgements, and that 186 visitors wrote down various opinions or expressed authentic feelings within the categories describe above can be considered as due to the potentiality of the exhibition for the popularization of mathematics, in particular, to change views and attitudes towards mathematics. On the other hand, the fact that the number of negative opinions were limited to a very few comments can be attributed to the success of the exhibition.
Conclusion: The results indicated that the exhibition addressed a large mass of people, especially students of any levels, and had very positive effects likely to change visitors’ views and attitudes towards mathematics. In addition, this study has revealed that Turkish people have a potential interest and awareness of mathematics and that high quality designs and projects could largely contribute to the popularization of mathematics. In particular, it is possible to consider that a strong collaboration between universities, ministry of education and TUBITAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey) could allow elaborating a strategic plan for the popularization of mathematics and provide opportunities for the emergence of high quality designs and projects.
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