Mathetics is the

science Science is a systematic endeavor that Scientific method, builds and organizes knowledge in the form of Testability, testable explanations and predictions about the universe. Science may be as old as the human species, and some of the earli ...

of learning. The term was coined by

John Amos Comenius John Amos Comenius (; cs, Jan Amos Komenský; pl, Jan Amos Komeński; german: Johann Amos Comenius; Latinization (literature), Latinized: ''Ioannes Amos Comenius''; 28 March 1592 – 15 November 1670) was a Czech Philosophy, philosopher, Ped ...

(1592–1670) in his work ''Spicilegium didacticum'', published in 1680. He understood ''Mathetics'' as the opposite of ''

Didactics A didactic method ( el, διδάσκειν ''didáskein'', "to teach") is a teaching method that follows a consistent scientific approach or educational style to present information to students. The didactic method of instruction is often contr ...

'', the science of

teaching Teaching is the practice implemented by a ''teacher'' aimed at transmitting skills (knowledge, know-how, and interpersonal skills) to a learner, a student, or any other audience in the context of an educational institution. Teaching is closely ...

. Mathetics considers and uses findings of current interest from

pedagogical Pedagogy (), most commonly understood as the approach to teaching, is the theory and practice of learning, and how this process influences, and is influenced by, the social, political and psychological development of learners. Pedagogy, taken as ...

psychology,

neurophysiology Neurophysiology is a branch of physiology and neuroscience that studies nervous system function rather than nervous system architecture. This area aids in the diagnosis and monitoring of neurological diseases. Historically, it has been dominated b ...

and

information technology Information technology (IT) is the use of computers to create, process, store, retrieve, and exchange all kinds of Data (computing), data . and information. IT forms part of information and communications technology (ICT). An information te ...

The Journal of Mathetics

In 1962,

The University of Alabama The University of Alabama (informally known as Alabama, UA, or Bama) is a public research university in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Established in 1820 and opened to students in 1831, the University of Alabama is the oldest and largest of the public ...

's Mathetics Foundation began publication of ''The Journal of Mathetics''. However, only two issues were ever printed, the first in January and the second in April. The contents of the first issue included: * p. 7 THE TECHNOLOGY OF EDUCATION –

domain theory Domain theory is a branch of mathematics that studies special kinds of partially ordered sets (posets) commonly called domains. Consequently, domain theory can be considered as a branch of order theory. The field has major applications in computer ...

, operant span,

long division In arithmetic, long division is a standard division algorithm suitable for dividing multi-digit Hindu-Arabic numerals (Positional notation) that is simple enough to perform by hand. It breaks down a division problem into a series of easier steps ...

* p. 75 EFFECTING THE USE OF EFFICIENT STUDY HABITS –

SQ3R SQRRR or SQ3R is a reading comprehension method named for its five steps: survey, question, read, recite and review. The method was introduced by Francis P. Robinson, an American education philosopher in his 1946 book ''Effective Study''. The m ...

, stimulus control, graph paper * p. 87 THE CONTROL OF EATING –

obese Obesity is a medical condition, sometimes considered a disease, in which excess body fat has accumulated to such an extent that it may negatively affect health. People are classified as obese when their body mass index (BMI)—a person's we ...

, disposition to eat, weight loss * p. 111 THE PROGRESS PLOTTER As A REINFORCEMENT DEVICE – reading rate, mathetical, delayed auditory feedback

Mathetics in literature

Seymour Papert Seymour Aubrey Papert (; 29 February 1928 – 31 July 2016) was a South African-born American mathematician, computer scientist, and educator, who spent most of his career teaching and researching at MIT. He was one of the pioneers of artificia ...

MIT The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private land-grant research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Established in 1861, MIT has played a key role in the development of modern technology and science, and is one of the m ...

mathematician, educator, and author, explains the rationale behind the term ''mathetics'' in Chapter 5 (A Word for Learning) of his book, ''The Children's Machine''. The origin of the word, according to Papert, is not from " mathematics," but from the Greek, ''mathēmatikos'', which means "disposed to learn." He feels this word (or one like it) should become as much part of the vocabulary about education as is the word

pedagogy Pedagogy (), most commonly understood as the approach to teaching, is the theory and practice of learning, and how this process influences, and is influenced by, the social, political and psychological development of learners. Pedagogy, taken ...

or instructional design. In Chapter 6 of ''The Children's Machine'', Papert mentions six case studies, and all six have their own accompanying learning moral and they all continue his discussion of his views of mathetics. Case study 2 looks at people who use mathematics to change and alter their recipes while cooking. His emphasis here is the use of mathematical knowledge without formal instruction, which he considers to be the central mathetic moral of the study. Papert states "The central epistemological moral is that we all used concrete forms of reasoning. The central mathetic moral is that in doing this we demonstrated we had learned to do something mathematical without instruction – and even despite having been taught to proceed differently" (p. 115).Papert, S. (1993). The Children's Machine: Rethinking School in the Age of the Computer: Basic Books, Inc. New York, NY, USA. Papert's 1980 book, '' Mindstorms: Children, Computers, and Powerful Ideas'', discusses the mathetic approach to learning. By using a mathetic approach, Papert feels that independent learning and creative thinking are being encouraged. The mathetic approach can be summarized as "learning by doing." Many proponents of the mathetic approach feel that the best, and maybe the only, way to learn is by self-discovery.

References

{{reflist * Mathetics: The technology of education TF Gilbert – ''Journal of Mathetics'', January 1962

External links

Research and information about Mathetics

Database with literature about Mathetics in several languages
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The Journal of Mathetics
Learning Didactics