Mathematics Education and Language: Interpreting Hermeneutics and Post-Structuralism

by Tony Brown

Overview

'Contemporary thinking on philosophy and the social sciences has been dominated by analyses that emphasise the importance of language in understanding societies and individuals functioning within them; important developments which have been under-utilised by researchers in mathematics education. This book reaches out to contemporary work in these broader fields; drawing on original sources in key areas such as Gadamer and Ricoeur's development of hermeneutics, Habermas' work in critical social theory, Schutz's social phenomenology, Saussure's linguistics and the post-structuralist analysis of Derrida, Foucault and Barthes. Through examining the writings of these major thinkers it is shown how language is necessarily instrumental in developing mathematical understanding; but a language that is in a permanent state of becoming, resisting stable connections to the ideas it locates. The analysis offered extends from children doing mathematics to teachers inspecting and developing their own professional practices.'

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780306472138
Publisher:	Springer-Verlag New York, LLC
Publication date:	04/11/2006
Series:	Mathematics Education Library , #20
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	4 MB

Table of Contents

Short Review of Recent Research.- Experiencing Mathematics.- Hermeneutics and Mathematics Education.- The Production of Mathematical Meaning: A Post-Structuralist Perspective.- Sharing Mathematical Perspectives.- The Classroom Environment.- Some Lessons.- The Phenomenology of the Mathematics Classroom.- The Teacher’s Perspective.- Teacher-Student Interactions.- Developing Teacher Practice.- Conclusion.- Conclusion.

Editorial Reviews

Concerned with the linguistic, societal, and philosophical context of teaching mathematics, Brown (education, Manchester Metropolitan U., UK) examines such classroom education from both the student's and teacher's perspectives. His phenomenology-influenced analysis<--> counter to both positivism and hermeneutics<-->is proceeded by a short review of recent research. The author argues for: regarding math experience as linguistic in nature; giving precedence in teaching the subject to evolving individual experience, over the notion of universal mathematical truths; and taking into account the educational challenge of preparing students for an uncertain future. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Booknews

This book examines the way in which language and interpretation underpin the teaching and learning of mathematics. It draws on the work of writers including Gadamer and Ricoeur on hermeneutics, Habermas on critical social theory, Saussure on linguistics, Foucault on post-structuralism, and Schütz on social phenomenology. Most of the examples offered describe elementary students learning mathematics in culturally and linguistically diverse classrooms, although there is also some discussion of work taking place in teacher education courses. This second edition adds material on progression in mathematical learning. A new concluding chapter considers how teachers experience the new demands they face. Brown teaches in the Institute of Education at Manchester Metropolitan University. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

‘Mathematics Education and Language is a highly recommendable book. The book contains many richly described episodes of mathematical activities.'
Linguistics and Education, 12:2 (2001)

From the Publisher