NCTM History of Mathematics Portfolio Project
Description of the Assignment
Mathematics candidates will develop a biography portfolio consisting of famous
mathematicians. The portfolio must include at least one mathematician specializing in the
following areas:
Content Area
Number Theory
Algebra
Geometry
Calculus
Discrete Mathematics
Statistics and Probability
Standard & Indicator
NCTM 9.10
NCTM 10.6
NCTM 11.8
NCTM 12.4
NCTM 13.4
NCTM 14.8
For each mathematician/area the following criteria must be included:
(1) Mathematician’s name and dates
(2) The NCTM Standards and State Standards that apply to the mathematician’s work
are cited.
(3) Personal biography of the mathematician (nationality, childhood experiences, and
adult family life).
(4) Description of the major social and political issues during the historical period
when the mathematician was making his/her discoveries.
(5) Description of the mathematician’s discoveries
(6) Summary of how the mathematician’s discoveries impacted the field of
mathematics
(7) Summary of the practical application of the mathematician’s contributions. For
example, did his/her discoveries help create new technologies?
(8) Summary of how the mathematician’s work impacts other academic fields such as
the physical, biological, or social sciences.
(9) Summary on how the candidate can use this information in order to engage
students.
(10) At least 2 outside resources are used to develop the biography and are cited.
Portfolio Format
All biography pages must be typed using 12 point font and double-spaced. The portfolio
must consist of the following pages:
(1) Title Page (Title of the portfolio, date of submission, and candidate’s name.
(2) Table of Contents
(3) Individual biographies (Set up in this sequence and mark with headings!)
a. Mathematician’s Name and dates top of page
b. National Origin of the Mathematician
c. NCTM and State Standards pertaining to the mathematician’s research
d. Personal Biography
e. Social and Political Issues concurrent with the Mathematician’s Research
f. Mathematician’s Discoveries / Ideas
g. Mathematician’s contributions to the field of mathematics
h. Impact of the mathematician’s work on other research fields
i. Practical / Technological applications of the mathematician’s
contributions
j. Listing of two additional resources on the mathematician and his or her
work