Editors: Simone Brasili and Johan Gielis
This thematic issue of Symmetry: Culture and Science on “Symmetry in Mathematics Education” looks at advances in the state of mathematical methods as well as theoretical studies and experimental research that are pushing the boundaries of current teaching methods and making new contributions to the field of symmetry in mathematics education.
Symmetry has been a fundamental concept in mathematics since the early stages of primary education. In elementary school, symmetry is associated with simple geometric transformations, including reflections, translations, and rotations. Reflection or mirror symmetry is a simple type among geometric symmetries: rotational or radial symmetries, translational symmetries, spiral symmetries, helical or scalar symmetries, glide reflection symmetries, cubic symmetries, and spherical symmetries. The above examples of symmetry represent numerous phenomena, but the list is far from complete.
The role of symmetry in mathematics goes beyond thinking about geometry in secondary school and university. Symmetry has the potential in education to absorb much of the intuitive geometric thinking and to transform many of these ideas into abstract concepts as group theories that can be put in the service of rigorous statements and proofs in various areas of mathematics. Thus, symmetry provides a language for the unifying branches of mathematics and, simultaneously, for various natural phenomena. The number of disciplines that symmetry unifies is large: analysis, geometry, algebra, topology, string theory, combinatorics, probability, and so on. If you think of mathematics as the study of patterns and structures, symmetry is a special lens through which to view it as a discipline that aims at understanding and creating order, beauty, and perfection (Weyl, 1952, p. 5).
The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged long-accepted beliefs about teaching and provides an opportunity to rethink pedagogical practices in mathematics education. The main goal of this thematic issue is to explore the power of symmetry, renew instructions and theoretical directions within and beyond the mathematics curriculum, and fill the educational gaps left by the upheaval of COVID-19. We invite the authors from all areas of the mathematics field and from different school orders and academia to submit their original works in relation, but not limited to, the following areas:
Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, precalculus, calculus, probability and statistics, number theory, topology, representation theory, recreational mathematics, applied mathematics, financial mathematics, S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), S.T.E.A.M (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics), history of mathematics, dynamical systems, differential equations, mathematical physics, computational theory, information theory, signal processing for all levels from kindergarten through to 5th-grade elementary school, from middle school to 12th-grade high school, from college to academic and mathematics teacher education.
Innovative approaches to concepts, theories, methods, or analyzes of symmetry-related educational practices are welcome. Of great value and interest is the presence of illustrations, artworks, and experimental artistic materials that have a pedagogical quality in classroom practice and bring to light additional valuable implications for visualizing and understanding symmetry. Such added aesthetic value can help symmetry become more attractive to and accepted by students. Authors can also include multimedia content in their articles in the form of QR CODES, which contains links to websites (e.g., videos, music files, and artistic material).
Similarly, we encourage contributions that highlight the value of mathematical connections and applications of symmetry in various scientific disciplines. Although the origins of symmetry go back a long way, exploring its rich symmetry functions and harnessing the potential of mathematics to build bridges within and across disciplines is still young and much research lies ahead.
Please follow the instructions for authors at the SUBMIT ARTICLE page (https://journal-scs.symmetry.hu/instructions-for-authors) and use the MS Word Stylesheet downloadable from the bottom of the page Instructions. Take special care to note: (1) the page size, margins, running heads; (2) the use of the built-in styles; and (3) precisely follow the given style of references. For MS Word users, use MathType for formulas and equations.
The length of the papers may vary from 6 to 16 pages, including illustrations. Please note that the papers will be published both electronically and printed form. We can publish colour illustrations online, but we can print those illustrations in b/w only. The latter means that colours should be made distinguishable in grey scales after conversion into b/w.
Contact and submission: editors Simone Brasili and Johan Gielis <journal@symmetry.hu>