What is Istron?
The journal series "material for a reality-based Math lesson” [Materialien für einen realitätsbezogenen Mathematikunterricht] is published by the Istron-network and the publishers of the individual volumes are part of this network.
In 1990, an international network was founded in Istron Bay in Crete with the objective of contributing to the improvement of the teaching of mathematics by means of coordination and innovation, especially on a European level. This network, named after the place where it was founded, consists of eight mathematicians and experts in the teaching of mathematics from Europe and the U.S., including the author of this text and others. The main focus should be to support the connection of math lessons with reality and everyday life. In doing so, the idea of the network plays a pivotal role: The connection of activities and the people who are significantly involved on a local, regional, and international level in these activities (Istron’s logo should symbolize this connection).
Since 1991, a German-Austrian ISTRON-network has been a part of this network and is responsible for publishing the journal series. The German-Austrian ISTRON-network consists of about 60 people including teachers, professors, lecturers, developers of curricula, authors of textbooks, teacher trainers, and publishers of journals. In the sense of the general network idea, this network has mutual connections with educators on a local and regional level as well as with the international ISTRON-network. The tasks of the network are (in addition to its responsibility for the journal series) the documentation and development of materials suited for teaching and learning realistic and everyday applications of mathematics. Further tasks of the network include numerous efforts to introduce such materials into the praxis of teaching through teacher training, further education of teachers, through textbooks and school curricula as well as through working directly with learners in schools.
In 1990, an international network was founded in Istron Bay in Crete with the objective of contributing to the improvement of the teaching of mathematics by means of coordination and innovation, especially on a European level. This network, named after the place where it was founded, consists of eight mathematicians and experts in the teaching of mathematics from Europe and the U.S., including the author of this text and others. The main focus should be to support the connection of math lessons with reality and everyday life. In doing so, the idea of the network plays a pivotal role: The connection of activities and the people who are significantly involved on a local, regional, and international level in these activities (Istron’s logo should symbolize this connection).
Since 1991, a German-Austrian ISTRON-network has been a part of this network and is responsible for publishing the journal series. The German-Austrian ISTRON-network consists of about 60 people including teachers, professors, lecturers, developers of curricula, authors of textbooks, teacher trainers, and publishers of journals. In the sense of the general network idea, this network has mutual connections with educators on a local and regional level as well as with the international ISTRON-network. The tasks of the network are (in addition to its responsibility for the journal series) the documentation and development of materials suited for teaching and learning realistic and everyday applications of mathematics. Further tasks of the network include numerous efforts to introduce such materials into the praxis of teaching through teacher training, further education of teachers, through textbooks and school curricula as well as through working directly with learners in schools.
Werner Blum