ABSTRACT

This new and updated second edition of Debates in Mathematics Education explores the major issues that mathematics teachers encounter in their daily lives. By engaging with established and contemporary debates, this volume promotes and supports critical reflection and aims to stimulate both novice and experienced teachers to reach informed judgements and argue their point of view with deeper theoretical knowledge and understanding.

Divided into five accessible sections, this book investigates and offers fresh insight into topics of central importance in mathematics education, with this second edition including new discussions and chapters on:

  • Classic and contemporary issues of pedagogy, politics, philosophy and sociology of mathematics education
  • International comparisons of achievement
  • Digital technologies for teaching
  • Mastery in mathematics
  • Pop culture and mathematics
  • Whether mathematics can be harmful

Designed to stimulate discussion and support you in your own research, writing and practice through suggested questions and activities throughout, Debates in Mathematics Education will be a valuable resource for any student or practising teacher, and those engaged in initial teacher education, continuing professional development or Master's level study. This book also has much to offer to those leading mathematics departments in schools and initial teacher education programmes, and to beginning doctoral students looking for a survey of the field of mathematics education research.

part Section One|24 pages

Debates about international comparisons

chapter Chapter 2|12 pages

Mathematics education in translation

Mastery, policy and evidence

part Section Two|86 pages

Debates about social justice

chapter Chapter 3|14 pages

The dark side of mathematics

Damaging effects of the overvaluation of mathematics

chapter Chapter 5|11 pages

Ability thinking

part Section Three|84 pages

Debates about classroom matters

chapter Chapter 10|16 pages

Planning for the unexpected

Working within symbolically structured environments

chapter Chapter 12|12 pages

Debates in task design

chapter Chapter 13|14 pages

Fake news, artificial intelligence, mobile divisions, likely futures?

Debates on digital technologies in mathematics education

chapter Chapter 14|13 pages

Mental maths

Just about what we do in our heads?

chapter Chapter 15|13 pages

The role of examples in mathematics teaching

part Section Four|46 pages

Debates about mathematics teaching and social content

chapter Chapter 16|13 pages

Mathematics and politics?

Climate change in the mathematics classroom

chapter Chapter 17|14 pages

Mathematical literacy

What is it? And is it important?

chapter Chapter 18|17 pages

History of mathematics in and for the curriculum

part Section Five|41 pages

Debates about assessment

chapter Chapter 19|13 pages

Formative assessment in mathematics education

Key debates

chapter Chapter 21|13 pages

Choosing the future

Which mathematics?