The Research on Mathematics Education ||| Philosophical Views |||

    

From some decades now, research in mathematics education has been emerging as a field of study in its own right. In building theoretical frameworks specific to its domain, while still productively drawing on cognitive and instructional psychology, this field is also dedicated to the mission of examining and improving the institutions and practices of school mathematics education. Accordingly, there is increasing interest in other social science disciplines and recognition of the cultural embedding of mathematics (education). After a long struggle for its identity, today one can say that mathematics education has become a full-fledged, interdisciplinary field of research and analysis, aiming at a better understanding of the processes underlying the acquisition and development of mathematical knowledge, skills, beliefs, and attitudes applied to the design of valuable tools and powerful environments for teaching/learning mathematics.

      There are different views applying research in mathematics education, they are:

      a) The Empiricist's view

      b) Intuitionist's view

      c) The Teacher's view/Constructivist's view

      d) Alternative View's on research in mathematics education.

     

      The trends in mathematics education research is variate in different stage of time period. It depends on the world views and development of mathematics. Some trends in mathematics education research are as follows:

      a) Historical trends in math education research.

      b) Modern trends in math education research.

      c) Ethnographic research trends in math education.

      d) trends towards action research

 

      The research area in math education are related to mathematics education as well as students, teachers, society, curriculum, pedagogy etc. Generally, following areas can be taken:

      a) Research on curricula, methods and materials

      b) Research on learning and the learning

      c) Research on teaching and teacher

      d) Research on cultural mathematics

      Finally, in my personal view, research in math education is to explore the mathematical knowledge in different areas which are mentioned above. Also my interest research area is ethno-mathematics.