Motivation and development of mathematical thinking

Abstract

This article presents the results of a study whose aim was to analyze elements ofmotivation in students, and it proposes activities that will help develop mathematical thinking. It is a case study, using quantitative and qualitarive research techniques, which was developed in three stages. The first stage invoÊved diagnosing and analyzing the students' motivation and mathematical skills; the second included the theoretical background and the choice of themes and motivationa: activities to deveÊop the students; and the final STage organized,dassifÊed and analyzed the information,
for the wriTing of the resea Kh npoü. The research demonstrated that one of the causes of Iackof motivation in students is the relationship they have with their teachers, and in the majority of cases. they are only motivated to do something through external stimuli. Én relation to the development of activities, it was seen that this type ofintervention prompts
the students TO become less indÊfferent, and more actively involved in the construction of mathematical concepts. It should be emphasized that, because this is a case study, the scope of the research is limited to the research popufation, therefore the results serve mereiy as an example fortransformÊng educatÊonaÊ practices.