Skip to main content
  • Book
  • © 2005

Meaning in Mathematics Education

  • By international researchers, addresses the issue of meaning in mathematics and mathematics education
  • Provides solid theoretical discussion of different trends that have oriented research in the construction of meaning in the learning of mathematics and presents research results of the different spheres where meaning construction in mathematics education has occurred

Part of the book series: Mathematics Education Library (MELI, volume 37)

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check for access.

Table of contents (14 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-x
  2. Introduction

    • Jeremy Kilpatrick, Celia Hoyles, Ole Skovsmose, Paola Valero
    Pages 1-8
  3. Meanings of Meaning of Mathematics

    • Jeremy Kilpatrick, Celia Hoyles, Ole Skovsmose, Paola Valero
    Pages 9-16
  4. “Meaning” and School Mathematics

    • Geoffrey Howson
    Pages 17-38
  5. Meaning in Mathematics Education

    • Ole Skovsmose
    Pages 83-100
  6. Collective Meaning and Common Sense

    • Jeremy Kilpatrick, Celia Hoyles, Ole Skovsmose, Paola Valero
    Pages 101-104
  7. Mathematics Education and Common Sense

    • Christine Keitel, Jeremy Kilpatrick
    Pages 105-128
  8. Communication and Construction of Meaning

    • Jeremy Kilpatrick, Celia Hoyles, Ole Skovsmose, Paola Valero
    Pages 129-137
  9. Discoursing Mathematics Away

    • Anna Sierpinska
    Pages 205-230
  10. Meaning and Mathematics

    • Michael Otte
    Pages 231-260

About this book

What does it mean to know mathematics? How does meaning in mathematics education connect to common sense or to the meaning of mathematics itself? How are meanings constructed and communicated and what are the dilemmas related to these processes? There are many answers to these questions, some of which might appear to be contradictory. Thus understanding the complexity of meaning in mathematics education is a matter of huge importance. There are twin directions in which discussions have developed—theoretical and practical—and this book seeks to move the debate forward along both dimensions while seeking to relate them where appropriate. A discussion of meaning can start from a theoretical examination of mathematics and how mathematicians over time have made sense of their work. However, from a more practical perspective, anybody involved in teaching mathematics is faced with the need to orchestrate the myriad of meanings derived from multiple sources that students develop of mathematical knowledge.

This book presents a wide variety of theoretical reflections and research results about meaning in mathematics and mathematics education based on long-term and collective reflection by the group of authors as a whole. It is the outcome of the work of the BACOMET (BAsic COmponents of Mathematics Education for Teachers) group who spent several years deliberating on this topic. The ten chapters in this book, both separately and together, provide a substantial contribution to clarifying the complex issue of meaning in mathematics education.

This book is of interest to researchers in mathematics education, graduate students of mathematics education, under graduate students in mathematics, secondary mathematics teachers and primary teachers with an interest in mathematics.

Editors and Affiliations

  • University of Georgia, Georgia, USA

    Jeremy Kilpatrick

  • University of London, London, UK

    Celia Hoyles

  • Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark

    Ole Skovsmose, Paola Valero

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access