Thinking during the aperitif. Learning to master the decimal place value system in entertaining situations

Abstract

The paper describes how it is possible to develop logical-mathematical thinking and operational skills regarding the positional decimal numeral system in a creative, operational and illustrative way. Theoretically the paper is close to the construct of «cognitive acceleration» (Adey, 2008) that connects in a “school of thought” the genetic theory of cognitive development (Piaget, 1977a, 1977b; Piaget & Voelin, 1980), the current curriculum (Lehrplan21), the proximal development zone (Vygotskij, 1986) and metacognition. Moreover, the article integrates the role play in the sense of sociometric experiment (Moreno, 1996; 2007), the method of critical exploration (Piaget, in Inhelder, Sinclair & Bovet, 1974) and the abacus as an operational tool of representation of the positional decimal numeral system (Johann, 2002; Johann & Matros, 2003). These methods can guide the understanding process during the learning of mathematics.