Lakatos’ Heuristics in a Graph Theory Class

The work of Imre Lakatos Proofs and Refutationswas written under the epistemological approach of mathematics, however, it has had an impact within mathematical education. In this article, a graph theory class sequence delivered under the Lakatos' heuristics perspective is examined. The mainobjective of this research project is to show the impact when this heuristic is applied on mathematical research in the classroom and on the development of the students' mathematical thinking. The analysis carried out in classes concluded that this heuristic furthers creativity, autonomy of thought, more robust concept meaning construction, and entails analogous situations to those of mathematical findings