Abstract:

Experimental mathematics is a new area of a modern mathematics. The main feature of this methodology is obtaining the results by means of computer experiments. This paper presents our viewpoint of the specific of an experimental mathematics loop, our didactical model of the inquiry-based mathematics education in the style of experimental mathematics and some results of the educational project where one of the pedagogical scenarios of this model was tested.

The educational project included following activities: the experimental mathematics club for 13–15-year-old students, two competitions: the Olympiad of Experimental Mathematics and Students’ Scientific conference “Mathematics and Projecting”.

The students’ motivation and there investigation skills were improved in the process of solution of experimental mathematics problems (one lesson per week, 1.5 hours each lesson).

A method of organisation students’ activity of solving a problem is described here. We used as an example the problem “The Filibusters of the Caribbean“.The competitions were used for assessment of skills' improving. Diagnostical tools and diagnostical results are described in this article. Two groups of subjects participated in the competitions: the first group – students who have been trained within the same didactical model, but only in the classroom; the second group – students who attended the club.

The educational project showed that this pedagogical scenario is interested for students. They are successful great in the solution of the experimental mathematics problems and in developing of these ideas. The results of competitions convince us that extracurricular pedagogical scenarios have more capabilities than curricular scenarios.

Keywords:

An inquiry-based mathematics education, dynamical geometry software, extracurricular education at middle school, an educational project, experimental mathematic.