Session Information
24 SES 02, Conceptualising and Implementing Teacher Prof Dev in Maths in European Context
Symposium
Time:
2009-09-28
11:15-12:45
Room:
NIG, HS III
Chair:
Geoff Wake
Discussant:
Pauline Vos
Contribution
Professional development relating to mathematical modeling in England is conceptualised as an opportunity for teachers to collaborate to develop pedagogies that widen students’ participation in active engagement with mathematics. However, in the dominant culture of performativity which regular assessment of pupils there is pressure to minimise risk taking in teaching so as to exclude approaches such as those necessary in mathematical modeling activities. The English case is analysed through a Cultural Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) lens that highlights the tensions for the teachers involved as they become boundary crossers between the professional development programme and their classrooms. Consideration of the goals of the teachers and the motivation of the different communities points to systemic tensions that are problematic for widespread professional development of this type with its focus on process skills or competencies as opposed to mathematical content. In considering how future research might better inform teachers and policy-makers about the efficacy of mathematical modeling in terms of both engaging students in mathematical activity and providing useful mathematical preparation it is suggested that careful consideration be paid to the nature of what this engagement and activity entails and its match with requirements for employment and critical citizenship.
Method
Expected Outcomes
References
Search the ECER Programme
- Search for keywords and phrases in "Text Search"
- Restrict in which part of the abstracts to search in "Where to search"
- Search for authors and in the respective field.
- For planning your conference attendance you may want to use the conference app, which will be issued some weeks before the conference
- If you are a session chair, best look up your chairing duties in the conference system (Conftool) or the app.