Realistic Mathematics & Vygotsky’s Theories in Mathematics Education

The trace of realistic mathematics education in the school mathematics in Iran

Abstract: In the late 70's, in reaction to both "New Math" movement in the United States and "mechanistic mathematics education" approach to mathematics education in Netherland, Realistic Mathematics Education (RME) has been introduced by Freudenthal and his colleagues. In this educational approach, Freudenthal considered mathematics as a human activity. Based on this approach, education should...

What ain’t mathematics education?!

Abstract: In 1996 at the first Iranian Mathematics Education Conference (IMEC1) that was held in Isfahan. I obliged myself as a mathematics educator, to inform the mathematics community at large by presenting a paper entitled “what is mathematics education?” to pave the way for the establishment of the master program of mathematics education in Iran. Now, after 16 years, we need to reflect on t...

Philosophy of Mathematics, Mathematics Education, and Philosophy of Mathematics Education

Mathematics, Mathematicians, and Mathematics Education

I am one of a growing number of research mathematicians who are substantially engaged with school mathematics education. Such outreach has a long and honorable tradition. In this lecture, I illustrate some of the ways that I think this can be helpful, and even essential. Upon his retirement in 1990 as president of the ICMI, Jean Pierre Kahane spoke perceptively of the intimate connection betwee...

Teaching Mathematics in Indonesian Primary Schools Using Realistic Mathematics Education (rme)-approach

This paper presents a case study about employing Realistic Mathematics Education (RME)-approach to teach mathematics in Indonesian primary schools. Many obstacles, such as the very dependent attitude of the pupils, the pupils who were not used to working in groups, lack of reasoning capability and lack of understanding of basic concepts, were found when the pupils, who were used to the traditio...