Proof assistants for undergraduate mathematics and computer science education: elements of a priori analysis

Evmorfia Bartzia (1) , Antoine Meyer (2) , Julien Narboux (3)

1 IMAG - Institut Montpelliérain Alexander Grothendieck
2 LIGM - Laboratoire d'Informatique Gaspard-Monge
3 ICube - Laboratoire des sciences de l'ingénieur, de l'informatique et de l'imagerie

This paper presents an a-priori analysis of the use of five different interactive proof assistants for education, based on the resolution of a typical undergraduate exercise on abstract functions. It proposes to analyse these tools according to three main categories of aspects: language and interaction mode, automation and user assistance, and proof structure and visualisation. We argue that this analysis may help formulate and clarify further research questions on the possible impact of such tools on the development of reasoning and proving skills.

Mots clés: Teaching and learning of logic; reasoning and proof; Digital and other resources in university mathematics education; Transition to across and from university mathematics; Novel approaches to teaching; Computer assisted theorem proving

Domaines: Logiciel mathématique [cs.MS]; Ingénierie assistée par ordinateur; Logique en informatique [cs.LO]

Evmorfia Bartzia, Antoine Meyer, Julien Narboux. Proof assistants for undergraduate mathematics and computer science education: elements of a priori analysis. INDRUM 2022: Fourth conference of the International Network for Didactic Research in University Mathematics, Reinhard Hochmuth, Oct 2022, Hanovre, Germany. ⟨hal-03648357v2⟩