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My Research -
weinsteing
I do educational research, usually focusing on the learning of mathematics by college students, particularly those who want to become mathematics teachers. I am interested in figuring out what "mathematical sophistication" is and how it develops. "Mathematical sophistication" is what I hope develops in someone who succeeds at a mathematics program or a particular course -- above and beyond knowing how to apply more mathematical techniques. How do service courses in mathematics impact the intellectual development of the students who take them? What are the usual practices of experienced and novice mathematics learners? How do mathematics majors develop -- do they approach mathematics differently as they progress in their majors? My dissertation explored a small slice of this very large topic. Right now, I'm engaged in more research along this line of inquiry that incorporates the philosophy of teaching of pre-service and in-service mathematics teachers. I am also fascinated by the impact of advanced technology on the basic practices and very meaning of what it means to learn and teach mathematics. When hand-held tools can do all of the technical calculutions in mathematics up to the second year of the major, what is it that we should be teaching? And what about the possibilities inherent in multimedia laptop computers or rich interactive Websites in the near future? Do we need instructors lecturing at the blackboard anymore, or are there more efficient ways for content to be delivered to the student and mathematical expertise be developed by the student? At this stage, my research consists of exploring these ideas by writing stories and thinking radical thoughts; I haven't yet embarked on any kind of empirical investigation of the situation. |
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