Gloria Ann Stillman – författare

This volume documents on-going research and theorising in the sub-field of mathematics education devoted to the teaching and learning of mathematical modelling and applications. Mathematical modelling provides a way of conceiving and resolving problems in people’s everyday lives as well as sophisticated new problems for society at large. Mathematical modelling and real world applications are considered as having potential for cultivating sense making in classroom settings. This book focuses on the educational perspective, researching the complexities encountered in effective teaching and learning of real world modelling and applications for sense making is only beginning. All authors of this volume are members of the International Community of Teachers of Mathematical Modelling (ICTMA), the peak research body into researching the teaching and learning of mathematical modelling at all levels of education from the early years to tertiary education as well as in the workplace.

This book documents ongoing research and theorizing in the sub-field of mathematics education devoted to the teaching and learning of mathematical modelling and applications. Mathematical modelling provides a way of conceiving and resolving problems in people’s everyday lives as well as sophisticated new problems for society at large.

Mathematical tradition in China that emphasizes algorithm and computation has now seen a renaissance in mathematical modelling and applications where China has made significant progress with its economy, science and technology. In recent decades, teaching and learning of mathematical modelling as well as contests in mathematical modelling have been flourishing at different levels of education in China.

Today, teachers and researchers in China become keener to learn from their colleagues from Western countries and other parts of the world in research and teaching of mathematical modelling and applications.

The book providesa dialogue and communication between colleagues from across the globe with new impetus and resources for mathematical modelling education and its research in both West and East with new ideas on modelling teaching and practices, inside and outside classrooms.

In this volume cultural, social and cognitive influences on the research and teaching of mathematical modelling are explored from a variety of theoretical and practical perspectives. The authors of the current volume are all members of the International Community of Teachers of Mathematical Modelling and Applications, the peak research body in this field. A distinctive feature of this volume is the high number of authors from South American countries. These authors bring quite a different perspective to modelling than has been showcased in previous books in this series, in particular from a cultural point of view. As well as recent international research, there is a strong emphasis on pedagogical issues including those associated with technology and assessment, in the teaching and learning of modelling. Applications at various levels of education are exemplified. The contributions reflect common issues shared globally and represent emergent or on-going challenges.

This volume documents on-going research and theorising in the sub-field of mathematics education devoted to the teaching and learning of mathematical modelling and applications. Mathematical modelling provides a way of conceiving and resolving problems in the life world of people whether these range from the everyday individual numeracy level to sophisticated new problems for society at large. Mathematical modelling and real world applications are considered as having potential for multi-disciplinary work that involves knowledge from a variety of communities of practice such as those in different workplaces (e.g., those of educators, designers, construction engineers, museum curators) and in different fields of academic endeavour (e.g., history, archaeology, mathematics, economics). From an educational perspective, researching the development of competency in real world modelling involves research situated in crossing the boundaries between being a student engaged in modelling or mathematical application to real word tasks in the classroom, being a teacher of mathematical modelling (in or outside the classroom or bridging both), and being a modeller of the world outside the classroom. This is the focus of many of the authors of the chapters in this book. All authors of this volume are members of the International Community of Teachers of Mathematical Modelling (ICTMA), the peak research body into researching the teaching and learning of mathematical modelling at all levels of education from the early years to tertiary education as well as in the workplace.