[Maths-Education] seminar on Mathematical Explanation by Tim Rowlands, University of Leeds, 29th April

[Tom Roper]

Dear Colleagues,

A mathematics education presentation open to all at the University of Leeds on Monday 29 April

Title: Mathematical Explanation
Speaker: Tim Rowland
Time: 16.30 - 18.00
Place:  EC Stoner building, room 10.81 (campus map on http://www.leeds.ac.uk/site/custom_scripts/campus_map.php)

Abstract: Explanation is central to the task of teaching. Gaea Leinhardt has written that "Instructional explanations are recognizable as being a part of the instructional landscape by teachers, students and observers". It is hard to conceive of mathematics teaching without it. One can surmise whether an explanation has been successful in achieving its intended purpose, or otherwise, by the response of the intended audience - usually a student, or students. Yet analysing our own explanations, or teaching someone else 'how to explain', is problematic. In this presentation I shall give some examples of explanation, from my own teaching and drawing on videotapes of other teachers, with the aim of identifying some key components of what might be called a 'mathematics explanation repertoire'.

Best wishes,

Tom