The role of mathematics in educational systems

Abstract

In this paper, I will explain my views on education, particularly mathematics education, stressing my critique on the socio-cultural dimensions involved in mathematics education. The state of the world and ethical behavior play an important role in my critique. In exposing my views, the importance of my relationship with Hans-Georg Steiner will be clearly stated. In my memory, our discussions on these issues were very influential to my thinking. The importance of the support given by Hans-Georg to the development of mathematics education worldwide will be underlined. Both in the position of the chairman of the International Program Committee of ICME 3 and in the early years of the IDM in Bielefeld, Hans-Georg provided the material and intellectual space for the strengthening of Didactics of Mathematics as a research field. Following these preliminary remarks, I will briefly present the Program Ethnomathematics and explain how the program fits into what I call the modern trivium of literacy, matheracy and technoracy, which is a curriculum alternative for contemporary education.

Ubiratan D’ambrosio [1932-2021] – ethnomathematics educator for the twenty-first century

“…Though not dwelt on here, Ubi was an eminent mathematics educator, not only in his roles in conferences, but also for his publications (D'Ambrosio, 1981;D'Ambrosio, 2007;D'Ambrosio, 2009;D'Ambrosio, 2011;D'Ambrosio, 2016;D'Ambrosio & Domite, 2008;D'Ambrosio & D'Ambrosio, 2013). Thus, there were professional society journal festschrifts published in Ubi's honour for his 60th and 75th birthdays, but he could not retire in a conventional sense.…”

Mathematics education in a time of crisis—a viral pandemic

“…One should expect that this supposedly powerful mathematics would be used in class to address the most obvious disruption of our era. We would expect a call from students and from society, echoing the decades of injunction from Ubiritan D’Ambrosio ( 1994 , 2007 , 2015 ) and others (e.g., Mendick, 2017 ), to examine the complicity of mathematics in the structures that allowed the virus to thrive, in addition to the possibilities for using mathematics for justice in these times. However, speaking from our own experiences, we see students, teachers, families, and politicians focused on the compelling, immediate, local needs.…”

Karakteristik Pelaksanaan Pembelajaran Matematika Berbasis Etnomatematika Untuk Siswa Sekolah Menengah Pertama

“…Matematika merupakan cara berpikir yang umum dan cara manusia untuk dapat mempertahankan hidupnya (D'Ambrosio, 2007). Mempelajari matematika dapat melatih siswauntuk berpikir logis, kritis, dan kreatif, serta dapat melatih ketelitian dan kesabaran, dan matematika akan sangat menunjang bidang lainnya (Oktafianti et al, 2019).…”