An investigation of mathematics history elements in middle school mathematics textbooks via ecological analysis model

The history of mathematics is a science that emphasizes the human aspects of mathematics, which enables to understand the formation processes of mathematical thinking, to develop positive attitudes towards the subject, and to transform such understanding into the design of classroom activities. One of the sources of the history of mathematics is textbooks. In this study, it was studied that for what purpose the elements of history of mathematics were used in the secondary school mathematics textbooks which were distributed by the Ministry of National Education between the years of 2018 - 2022, how they were evaluated in terms of content and format, and the degree to which they were associated with the subjects in the textbook. The data sources of the research consist of 12 secondary school mathematics textbooks. These data were collected by document analysis method. The first problem of the research was analysed by means of content analysis; the second problem was analysed by means of ecological analysis method. As a result of the analysis, 47 mathematics history elements were found in 12 textbooks. At the end of the study, it was observed that the number of historical items used in the textbooks was inadequate. It has been observed that the elements of the history of mathematics are mostly used in the form of historical snippets. When a detailed analysis of historical snippets is made; it has been determined that in the introduction part of the subject it contains information about the historical background of mathematical concept in order to motivate student and it is distinctly different from the physical structure and designment of the textbook. It has been determined that the elements are in the majority at the 7th and 8th grade levels. The elements are mostly reached in the field of Geometry and Measurement learning areas. According to the results which were gained in the direction of the second problem, it was seen that while some of the examined items of history of mathematics were in harmony with the textbook, the ecological niches or habitats of some of them were not correspond with the ecosystem of the textbook.