Two Approaches to Introducing Abstract Algebra to Undergraduate Students

추상대수학 강좌의 두 가지 접근 방법

There can be two different approaches to introducing Abstract Algebra to undergraduate students: One is to introduce group concept prior to ring concept, and the other is to do the other way around. Although the former is almost conventional, it is worth while to take the latter into consideration in the viewpoint that students are already familiar to rings of integers and polynomials. In this paper, we investigated 16 most commonly used Abstract Algebra undergraduate textbooks and found that 5 of them introduce ring theory prior to group theory while the rest do the other way around. In addition, we interviewed several undergraduate students who already have taken an Abstract Algebra course to look into which approach they prefer. Then we compare pros and cons of two approaches on the basis of the results of the interview and the historico-genetic principle of teaching and learning in Abstract Algebra and suggest that it certainly be one of alternatives to introduce ring theory before group theory in its standpoint.