[Maths-Education] proposals for a research agenda for mathematics education

[Keith Jones]

I see that, in the US, the move to a national research agenda for 
education, prioritising research on the teaching of reading and mathematics 
in particular, is continuing apace. The Rand Corporation has organised a 
Mathematics Study Panel (paid for by the U.S. Department of Education's 
Office of Educational Research and Improvement) which has released a draft 
report entitled "Mathematical Proficiency for All Students: Toward a 
Strategic Research and Development Program in Mathematics Education" aimed 
at helping the U.S. Department of Education consider possible programs of 
research.

The draft report suggests that, in order to help develop proficiency in 
mathematics for all students, future mathematics education research could 
usefully focus on:
1. The teaching and learning of algebra.
2. The teaching and learning of mathematical practices ("the tools, skills 
and habits of mind and action that form the basis of learning, doing, and 
using mathematics proficiently").
3. The knowledge of mathematics needed for teaching and ways to deploy such 
knowledge in practice.

The full report can be found at:
http://www.rand.org/multi/achievementforall/math/

The authors of the draft report are adopting an open process of review and 
discussion so the website also features comments on the draft from ten 
mathematics education researchers.

The invitation is open for more comment.

I hope I haven't misrepresented the intentions of this initiative.

Keith
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Keith Jones
University of Southampton
Research and Graduate School of Education
Highfield
Southampton
SO17 1BJ
UK

e-mail:   dkj@southampton.ac.uk
tel:       +44 (0)23 8059 2449
fax:       +44 (0)23 8059 3556
web:	   http://www.education.soton.ac.uk/