Preface
This
is the first Electronic
Proceedings of ATCM
Conferences. And
there will be more
to come. One advantage
of this electronic
version of the hard
copy proceedings
is to allow more
educators and researchers
to access the scholarly
work from the community.
The Web has made
this possible and
we will continue
to facilitate the
publishing of electronic
mathematics worksheets
from authors.
Editorial
Board
1997
DATO'
SRI MOHD. NAJIB
BIN TUN ABDUL RAZAK
I wish to congratulate
the School of Mathematical
Sciences, Universiti
Sains Malaysia,
for hosting this
International Conference
on Technology in
Mathematical Research
and Teaching. I
am also delighted
to take this opportunity
to welcome all participants
both from overseas
and Malaysia to
this Conference.
There is always
a quest for improvement
in teaching mathematics
at various levels,
ranging from the
primary to the tertiary.
Technology is one
area that has great
potential as technology
knowledge seems
to advance at greater
pace than most people
expected. Mathematics
has the stigma of
being a difficult
and dry subject
and it is hoped
that proper utilisation
of technology can
remove it. Mathematics
no longer need to
be solely be a matter
of paper and pencil
or chalk and blackboard.
The use of IT in
educational institutions
is part of the initiatives
towards emplacing
the IT system in
the midst of modern
life. In line with
this our Prime Minister
has launched the
Multimedia Super
Corridor.
With the availability
of the latest mathematics
related technology
and the proper utilisation
of them, it is hoped
that students will
no longer view mathematics
in the negative.
It is therefore
neccessary for a
university such
as USM to develop
its infrastructure
so as to keep in
pace with the rapid
development in mathematics
related IT.
It is my hope that
this Conference
will serve as a
catalyst to augur
educational changes
for the next millenium.
DATO'
SRI MOHD. NAJIB
BIN TUN ABDUL RAZAK
Minister of
Education Malaysia
DATO'
PROF. ISHAK TAMBI
KECHIK
Allow me to express
my thanks to the
organisers for giving
me the opportunity
to write a few words
and to extend my
heartiest congratulations
to the School of
Mathematical Sciences
for its efforts
in organising this
conference.
Mathematics is a
subject that has
a reputation of
being very challenging
and therefore intellectually
unapproachable except
to a few. On the
other hand, the
information technology
age requires that
the workforce be
mathematically literate.
If mathematics can
be seen as crucial
to the development
of the intellect
and the study of
logic, rather than
awkward formulae
and theorems to
be remembered and
reproduced in examination
halls, then education
would fulfill part
of its role and
the country will
be richer for it.
At the same time,
the workspace is
also required to
be technology literate,
especially the technology
that has relevance
to computers and
their varied uses.
I am happy to note
that this conference,
through papers presented,
addresses these
pertinent issues.
It is hoped that
as a result of this
conference, more
research will be
done to promote
the use of technology
to enhance the understanding
of mathematics in
schools, institutions
of higher learning
and bring to the
forefront its beauty,
elegance and relevance
in this modern age.
Finally I would
like to congratulate
all those who have
worked so hard to
make this conference
a success.
DATO'
PROF. ISHAK TAMBI
KECHIK
Vice-Chancellor,
USM
DR.
AB. RAHIM SELAMAT
RECSAM as a regional
centre in Science,
Mathematics and
Technology Education,
is indeed honoured
to cosponsor the
Second Asian Technology
Conference in Mathematics.
The teaching, and
learning of mathematics
scenario through
the years have not
changed dramatically
until the introduction
of computer technology
in early nineties.
Since then computer
as a pedagogical
tool has made teaching
and learning outcomes
more effective and
efficient primarily
in the developed
world. Similarly
in the research
domain, the application
of computer technology
has also benefited
researchers considerably.
RECSAM through its
Mathematics Department
has embarked on
the initial application
of computer technology
in the teaching
of the regular or
customised mathematics
training packages.
The Research and
Development Department
has also attempted
the basic application
of computer technology
in research. However
for RECSAM such
beginnings still
have a long way
to go as computer
technology for instruction
and research is
a fast changing
medium.
This conference
will offer participants
the best opportunity
to keep abreast
with the glabal
state of the art
and the state of
the practice related
to the conference
theme. This intellectual
discourse would
hopefully lead to
a paradigm shift
and make a significant
difference in the
teaching and learning
of mathematics and
also in mathematical
research.
Happy conferencing.
DR.
AB. RAHIM SELAMAT
Director
SEAMEO RECSAM
Dr.
YAHYA ABU HASAN
I would like to
extend a very warm
welcome to delegates
who truly have come
from the four corners
of the world just
to disseminate and
discuss topics dear
to our hearts -mathematics,
technology and all
that.
This conference
would not happen
without the support
and help from many
quarters. I would
like to mention
the Vice-Chancellor,
Dean of the School
of Mathematical
Sciences, our cohosts,
Seameo-Recsam and
Malaysian Mathematical
Society, sponsors
as listed elsewhere
and government agencies.
I would like to
take this opportunity
to express my gratitude
to the invited speakers,
presenters of working
papers, sessions
chairpersons, workshops
facilitators, participants,
guests and not forgetting
the exhibitors,
for their presence
and contributions
during the conference.
Without doubt, you
are the main impulse
that drives the
conference to success.
Thanks also to the
various members
of the Organising
Committee and the
International Program
Committee and clerical
staffs at the School
of Mathematical
Sciences who have
work very, very
hard to make this
conference happen.
Dr.
YAHYA ABU HASAN
Chair
Organising Committee
Prof.
WEI-CHI YANG
Firstly,
I am very proud
to present the organizing
institutions of
the 2nd ATCM, RECSAM
and USM. Secondly,
let's give applauses
to all the hardwork
contributed by members
of the the International
Program Committee
and Organizing Committee.
In addition, ATCM97
is very fortunate
to have the following
sponsors: CASIO,
Texas Intrument,
Waterloo Maple Inc.
and Wolfram Research.
With their supports,
we are able to invite
many renown speakers
from all over the
world.
Technology is changing
rapidly and constently,
educators and researchers
in mathematical
sciences are searching
for the best way
of implementing
technology in providing
insigts for possible
solutions. That
is why eduators
and researchers
come from all over
the world to ATCM
to share their best
results.
To make sure future
ATCMs are regularly
organized and to
provide the directions
for further coorporation
among educators,
reserachers, institutions,
software and hardware
companies, I have
established the
ATCM
foundation.
Your comments and
supports are greated
appreciated. We
could expect more
and more students,
teachers and researchers
exchange information
on mathematics through
the World Wide Web
technology and experiment
live mathematics.
Enjoy the 2nd ATCM,
and beautiful Penang.
See you all at ATCM98-Japan.
Wei-Chi Yang
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