[Maths-Education] Forthcoming seminar
Angier, Corinne F
maths-education@nottingham.ac.uk
Mon, 1 Dec 2003 17:14:21 -0000
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Sheffield Hallam University
School of Education
Research Seminar Programme
Mathematics Education Research Group
=20
Wednesday 10 December 2003
4.30-6.00pm
History and Philosophy of Mathematics Education
Some reflections from the Confucian Heritage Culture
Ma Li
Link=F6ping University, Sweden
=20
In the past decade mathematics educators have begun to pay more =
attention to the influence of cultural differences on the study of
mathematics. Researchers have developed quantitative and qualitative =
methods to make comparative studies in mathematics education of the
East and the West.=20
Three approaches to learning have been identified: surface, deep, and =
achieving. It has been claimed that learners from the Confucian
Heritage Culture tend to adopt a surface approach to learning, which is =
passive, reproductive, involving only a minimal degree of analysis
or reflection. Such students are quiet, respectful of authority, =
striving for harmony, reluctant to question, lack speculative and =
critical
skills. It is supposed to be the consequence of their learning =
strategies in Chinese characters which are used in mainland China, =
Taiwan,
Singapore, Japan, (Korea, Vietnam,) and so on.
On the other hand, results from several studies have shown that =
students from the Confucian Heritage Culture often perform better in
mathematics than their counterparts with different backgrounds. Most of =
the CHC students are not only diligent, but also have high
achievement motivation, due to their high regard for and positive =
attitude towards education.
How can such a seemingly paradoxical phenomenon be explained? In this =
meeting we shall try to discuss some historical and possibly
philosophical aspects of mathematics education in traditional China.
Seminars are held at
the Centre for Mathematics Education
25 Broomgrove Road
Sheffield S10 2NA
Tea and coffee from 4.00pm
=20
=20
Dr Hilary Povey
Reader, School of Education, Sheffield Hallam University
Collegiate Crescent Campus, Sheffield S10 2BP
tel +44 114 225 2338, fax +44 114 225 2339, h.povey@shu.ac.uk
=20
=20
=20
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<DIV><FONT color=3D#008000><B>
<P><FONT color=3D#000080>Sheffield Hallam University</FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=3D#000080>School of Education</FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=3D#000080>Research Seminar Programme</FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=3D#000080>Mathematics Education Research =
Group</FONT></P></B>
<TABLE cellSpacing=3D1 cellPadding=3D7 width=3D568 border=3D1>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD bgColor=3D#ffffff><FONT size=3D4>
<P align=3Dcenter><FONT color=3D#000080></FONT> </P>
<P align=3Dcenter><FONT color=3D#000080>Wednesday 10 December =
2003</FONT></P>
<P align=3Dcenter><FONT color=3D#000080>4.30-6.00pm</FONT></P>
<P align=3Dcenter><FONT color=3D#000080></FONT></P><B>
<P align=3Dcenter><FONT color=3D#000080>History and Philosophy of =
Mathematics=20
Education</FONT></P>
<P align=3Dcenter><FONT color=3D#000080>Some reflections from the =
Confucian=20
Heritage Culture</FONT></P>
<P align=3Dcenter><FONT color=3D#000080></FONT></P></B>
<P align=3Dcenter><FONT color=3D#000080>Ma Li</FONT></P>
<P align=3Dcenter><FONT color=3D#000080>Link=F6ping University,=20
Sweden</FONT></P>
<P align=3Dcenter><FONT=20
color=3D#000080></FONT></FONT></P></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><FONT =
color=3D#000080=20
size=3D2>
<P align=3Djustify> </P></FONT>
<P align=3Djustify><FONT color=3D#000080>In the past decade mathematics =
educators=20
have begun to pay more attention to the influence of cultural =
differences on the=20
study of mathematics. Researchers have developed quantitative and =
qualitative=20
methods to make comparative studies in mathematics education of the =
East and the=20
West. </FONT></P>
<P align=3Djustify><FONT color=3D#000080></FONT></P>
<P align=3Djustify><FONT color=3D#000080>Three approaches to learning =
have been=20
identified: surface, deep, and achieving. It has been claimed that =
learners from=20
the Confucian Heritage Culture tend to adopt a surface approach to =
learning,=20
which is passive, reproductive, involving only a minimal degree of =
analysis or=20
reflection. Such students are quiet, respectful of authority, striving =
for=20
harmony, reluctant to question, lack speculative and critical skills. =
It is=20
supposed to be the consequence of their learning strategies in Chinese=20
characters which are used in mainland China, Taiwan, Singapore, Japan, =
(Korea,=20
Vietnam,) and so on.</FONT></P>
<P align=3Djustify><FONT color=3D#000080></FONT></P>
<P align=3Djustify><FONT color=3D#000080>On the other hand, results =
from several=20
studies have shown that students from the Confucian Heritage Culture =
often=20
perform better in mathematics than their counterparts with different=20
backgrounds. Most of the CHC students are not only diligent, but also =
have high=20
achievement motivation, due to their high regard for and positive =
attitude=20
towards education.</FONT></P>
<P align=3Djustify><FONT color=3D#000080></FONT></P>
<P align=3Djustify><FONT color=3D#000080>How can such a seemingly =
paradoxical=20
phenomenon be explained? In this meeting we shall try to discuss some =
historical=20
and possibly philosophical aspects of mathematics education in =
traditional=20
China.</FONT></P><FONT size=3D2>
<P align=3Dcenter><FONT color=3D#000080></FONT></P>
<P align=3Dcenter><FONT color=3D#000080>Seminars are held at</FONT></P>
<P align=3Dcenter><FONT color=3D#000080>the Centre for Mathematics=20
Education</FONT></P>
<P align=3Dcenter><FONT color=3D#000080>25 Broomgrove Road</FONT></P>
<P align=3Dcenter><FONT color=3D#000080>Sheffield S10 2NA</FONT></P>
<P align=3Dcenter><FONT color=3D#000080></FONT></P>
<P align=3Dcenter><FONT color=3D#000080>Tea and coffee from=20
4.00pm</FONT></P></FONT><FONT face=3DVerdana size=3D2>
<P><FONT color=3D#000080></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT color=3D#000080></FONT> </P></FONT><FONT face=3DVerdana =
size=3D2>
<P><FONT color=3D#000080>Dr Hilary Povey</FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=3D#000080>Reader, School of Education, Sheffield Hallam=20
University</FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=3D#000080>Collegiate Crescent Campus, Sheffield S10 =
2BP</FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=3D#000080>tel +44 114 225 2338, fax +44 114 225 2339,=20
h.povey@shu.ac.uk</FONT></P></FONT></FONT></DIV>
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