Ricerc@Sapienza

The book under review is a lively biography of Emma Castelnuovo, one of the most influential researchers in the didactics of mathematics of the past century. The book walks us through her life and shows the deep connection between her research work and her civil commitment for democracy and equal opportunity for all children. Many of the cornerstones of Emma Castelnuovo’s didactical method are vividly described and freshly analysed through memories, anecdotes and personal reflections of the authors, both of whom were among her closest followers.

In recent discussions on university curricula we fostered the idea that an extensive teaching of mathematics is needed in the education of prospective teachers. Most universities only provide courses on methodological didactical issues - if any - or intensive teaching, more suitable for prospective researchers. The goal of this paper is to clarify the meaning of extensive teaching, in the sense already considered in the work of Guido Castelnuovo, and to discuss its relevance today.