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252-0855-00L 4 Credits BSC , DR , SHE , MSC D-INFK , D-MATH , D-PHYS

Computer Science in Secondary School Mathematics

Informatik im gymnasialen Mathematikunterricht

Lecturers & Examiners: Prof. em. Dr. Juraj Hromkovic, Dr. Giovanni Serafini, Prof. Dr. Dennis Komm
VVZ CR n/a

Last Updated: 2026-06-03 00:07:49

Abstract

The unit "Computer Science in Secondary School Mathematics" addresses key contributions of computer science to general education, the tight relations between the algorithmic and the mathematical way of thinking, and the thoughtful choice of computer science topics for high school mathematics classes.

Objective

The general goal of the course consists in presenting ways to teach fundamentals of computer science, which are closely related to contents and methods of mathematics. After attending the course unit, a mathematics teacher is able to teach selected fundamentals of computer science in mathematics classes. The students understand the fundamental concepts of computer science in the context of a broad and deep knowledge. Through this understanding, they manage to prepare teaching materials for a successful knowledge transfer and to pass their passion for the subject on to their pupils. The students know various teaching methods as well as their advantages and disadvantages. They can handle inhomogeneous prior knowledge of the learners inside a class. Besides holding classes, the students do care about the individual pupil support. They encourage the autonomy of the learners, manage to work with diverse target groups and to establish a positive learning environment. The students are able to express themselves using a comprehensible and refined professional language, both in a spoken and a written way, and they master the basic terminology of computer science. Besides the English terms, they are familiar with the corresponding German expressions. The students are able to produce detailed, matured, linguistically correct and design-wise appealing teaching materials.

Content

The main topics of the course unit "Computer Science in Secondary School Mathematics" represent a scientific and didactic added value for mathematics classes. The course covers the didactics of logic, of cryptology, of finite state automata, of computability and of the introduction to programming. The students develop the understanding of fundamental scientific concepts such as algorithm, program, complexity, determinism, computation, automata, verification, testing, security of a cryptosystem and secure communication. They reflect on ways to embed them into a scientifically sound and didactically sustainable mathematics course. In a semester exercise, the students develop and document an adaptive teaching unit for computer science. They learn to employ the didactics methods and techniques that are introduced at the beginning of the semester.

Resources

Lecture Notes

Literatur wird angegeben. Zusätzliche Unterlagen und Folien werden zur Verfügung gestellt.

Literature

J. Hromkovic et al.: Lehrwerksreihe " Grundlagen der Informatik für Schweizer Maturitätsschulen" Lehrwerksreihe "Einfach Informatik" https://einfachinformatik.inf.ethz.ch/ J. Hromkovic: Sieben Wunder der Informatik: Eine Reise an die Grenze des Machbaren, mit Aufgaben und Lösungen. Vieweg+Teubner; Auflage: 2 (2008). K. Freiermuth, J. Hromkovic, L. Keller und B. Steffen: Einfuehrung in die Kryptologie: Lehrbuch für Unterricht und Selbststudium. Springer Vieweg; Auflage: 2 (2014). J. Hromkovic: Berechenbarkeit: Logik, Argumentation, Rechner und Assembler, Unendlichkeit, Grenzen der Automatisierbarkeit. Vieweg+Teubner; Auflage: 1 (2011). H.-J. Böckenhauer, J. Hromkovic: Formale Sprachen: Endliche Automaten, Grammatiken, lexikalische und syntaktische Analyse. Springer Vieweg; Auflage: 1 (Januar 2013). J. Hromkovic: Einführung in die Programmierung mit LOGO: Lehrbuch für Unterricht und Selbststudium. Springer Vieweg; Auflage: 3 (2014)

General Information

Language
German
Levels
BSC , DR , SHE , MSC
Frequency
Yearly recurring

Examination

Type
session examination
Mode
written 180 minutes
Aids
Keine Hilfsmittel erlaubt.
Die Gesamtnote entspricht dem arithmetischen Mittel der Note der obligatorischen semesterbegleitenden Übung (50%) und der Note der Sessionsprüfung (50%).

Registration & Places

Priority: Registration for the course unit is only possible for the primary target group

Course Components

Type Title Time & Place Hours
lecture with exercise Informatik im gymnasialen Mathematikunterricht
Permission from lecturers required for all students.
No time listed 3 h weekly

Offered In