Disaffection With School Mathematics

‘Young peoples’ disaffection with mathematics is a problem since it is a key factor in disengagement, lack of participation, progression and attainment. Large numbers of young people are becoming effectively ‘lost’ to mathematics with the result that too many young people are leaving education without the competence in mathematics that they require for successful citizenship. Disaffection with School Mathematics reports on an investigation into disaffection with school mathematics undertaken by the author. Too little is known about both the nature and the causes of disaffection, and in this light the research looks beyond the quantitative study of attitude to investigate the nature of the subjective experience of learning, or not learning, mathematics. Disaffection with school mathematics is characterized as a motivational and emotional phenomenon, and Reversal Theory is introduced as a robust theory which is used as an interpretative framework to account for students’ affective experience of school mathematics, and to inform the design of a range of novel methods. Overall the book develops and presents a deep description of the landscape of disaffection as experienced by, and in the voice of, students. Some empirical and theoretical implications of the study are discussed.

Since its establishment in 1976, PME (The International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education) is serving as a much sought after venue for scientific debate among those at the cutting edge of the field, as well as an engine for the development of research in mathematics education. A wide range of research activities conducted over the last ten years by PME members and their colleagues are documented and critically reviewed in this handbook, released to celebrate the Group’s 40 year anniversary milestone. The book is divided into four main sections: Cognitive aspects of learning and teaching content areas; Cognitive aspects of learning and teaching transverse areas; Social aspects of learning and teaching mathematics; and Professional aspects of teaching mathematics. The selection for each chapter of a team of at least two authors, mostly located in different parts of the world, ensured effective coverage of each field. High quality was further enhanced by the scrupulous review of early chapter drafts by two leaders in the relevant field. The resulting volume with its compilation of the most relevant aspects of research in the field, and its emphasis on trends and future developments, will be a rich and welcome resource for both mature and emerging researchers in mathematics education.

NORTH AMERICAN RIGHTS ONLY: This is a revised edition of Experiencing School Mathematics first published in 1997 by Open University Press, © Jo Boaler. This revised edition is for sale in North America only. The first book to provide direct evidence for the effectiveness of traditional and reform-oriented teaching methods, Experiencing School Mathematics reports on careful and extensive case studies of two schools that taught mathematics in totally different ways. Three hundred students were followed over three years, providing an unusual and important range of data, including observations, interviews, questionnaires, and assessments, to show the ways students' beliefs and understandings were shaped by the different approaches to mathematics teaching. The interviews that are reproduced in the book give compelling insights into what it meant to be a student in the classrooms of the two schools. Questions are raised about and new evidence is provided for: * the ways in which "traditional" and "reform oriented" mathematics teaching approaches can impact student attitude, beliefs, and achievement; *the effectiveness of different teaching methods in preparing students for the demands of the "real world" and the 21st century; *the impact of tracking and heterogeneous ability grouping; and *gender and teaching styles--the potential of different teaching approaches for the attainment of equity. The book draws some radical new conclusions about the ways that traditional teaching methods lead to limited forms of knowledge that are ineffective in non-school settings. This edition has been revised for the North American market to show the relevance of the study results in light of the U.S. reform movement, the "math wars" and debates about teachers, assessment, and tracking. The details of the study have been rewritten for an American audience and the results are compared with research conducted in the U.S. This is an important volume for mathematics teachers and researchers, education policymakers, and for students in mathematics education courses. NOTE: This is a revised edition of Experiencing School Mathematics first published in 1997 by Open University Press, © Jo Boaler. This revised edition is for sale in North America only.

This book presents a literature review of and a state-of-the-art glimpse into current research on affect-related aspects of teaching and learning in and beyond mathematics classrooms. Then, research presented at the MAVI 25 Conference, which took place in Intra (Italy) in June 2019, is grouped in thematic strands that capture cutting-edge issues related to affective components of learning and teaching mathematics. The concluding chapter summarises the main messages and sketches future directions for research on affect in mathematics education. The book is intended for researchers in mathematics education and especially graduate students and PhD candidates who are interested in emotions, attitudes, motivations, beliefs, needs and values in mathematics education.

This open access book, inspired by the ICME 13 topic study group “Affect, beliefs and identity in mathematics education”, presents the latest trends in research in the area. Following an introduction and a survey chapter providing a concise overview of the state-of-art in the field of mathematics-related affect, the book is divided into three main sections: motivation and values, engagement, and identity in mathematics education. Each section comprises several independent chapters based on original research, as well as a reflective commentary by an expert in the area. Collectively, the chapters present a rich methodological spectrum, from narrative analysis to structural equation modelling. In the final chapter, the editors look ahead to future directions in the area of mathematics-education-related affect. It is a timely resource for all those interested in the interaction between affect and mathematics education.

Emotions play a critical role in mathematical cognition and learning. Understanding Emotions in Mathematical Thinking and Learning offers a multidisciplinary approach to the role of emotions in numerical cognition, mathematics education, learning sciences, and affective sciences. It addresses ways in which emotions relate to cognitive processes involved in learning and doing mathematics, including processing of numerical and physical magnitudes (e.g. time and space), performance in arithmetic and algebra, problem solving and reasoning attitudes, learning technologies, and mathematics achievement. Additionally, it covers social and affective issues such as identity and attitudes toward mathematics. Covers methodologies in studying emotion in mathematical knowledge Reflects the diverse and innovative nature of the methodological approaches and theoretical frameworks proposed by current investigations of emotions and mathematical cognition Includes perspectives from cognitive experimental psychology, neuroscience, and from sociocultural, semiotic, and discursive approaches Explores the role of anxiety in mathematical learning Synthesizes unifies the work of multiple sub-disciplines in one place

This book presents examples of numeracy applications developed in a wide range of courses in a Further Education college in Wales. The numeracy case studies are not limited to simple arithmetic and tasks involving shape and space, but include more advanced topics such as: statistical analysis, mathematical modelling, calculus and design of algorithms. A broad definition of numeracy is adopted by the authors, in line with the range of numeracy skills expected and valued by employers. In addition to a knowledge of mathematical techniques, numeracy is considered to include: problem solving, especially in the design of solutions to non-routine tasks; communication of mathematical results in formats which are suitable for the intended audience and facilitate decision making; an ability to use computer technology to collect and process data; and a familiarity with number which allows appropriate levels of accuracy to be chosen, estimates made and errors detected.

This book is about mathematics teaching and learning in Africa during the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) has evolved to utilize new technologies in the teaching and learning of Mathematics. It is characterized by the fusion of the biological, physical and digital worlds and embodies a new era of innovation in mathematics education, leading to the rapid emergence of new technologies for mathematics teaching and learning. Because 4IR in mathematics education is happening differently in various parts of Africa, the authors of the various chapters in this volume have positioned their work in their respective local contexts. The chapters address a wide variety of interests, concerns, and implications regarding 4IR and Mathematics Education in Africa. Additionally, a number of chapters address teaching mathematics in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic that has gripped the world. Other chapters discuss the implications of inequalities in Africa that effect mathematics education during 4IR. Chapters also incorporate arguments, observations, and suggestions to, improve and transform the teaching and learning of mathematics in Africa during the 4IR. This book highlights a new era of innovation in mathematics education in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, leading to the rapid emergence of new technologies in mathematics teaching and learning. It is a valuable resource for graduate students, people with research interests in the fourth industrial revolution and mathematics educators at any level, including all mathematics teachers; mathematics education curriculum designers and policymakers.