Paul Ernest's Social Constructivist Philosophy of Mathematics Education
Wilding-Martin, Erin Cecilia
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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/80107
Description
Title
Paul Ernest's Social Constructivist Philosophy of Mathematics Education
Author(s)
Wilding-Martin, Erin Cecilia
Issue Date
2009
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Feinberg, Walter
Department of Study
Educational Policy Studies
Discipline
Educational Policy Studies
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
Education, Community College
Language
eng
Abstract
The main focus of this project is to critically analyze Ernest's philosophy of mathematics education and his conceptions of mathematical knowledge and democratic education. Specifically, I use textual analysis to interpret what he intends for each group of students and to critically analyze the conceptions of mathematical knowledge and democratic citizenship implicit in each set of recommendations. I examine whether these conceptions are consistent with each other and with his philosophy of mathematics education. I argue that while Ernest's general conceptions of mathematical knowledge and democratic citizenship are similar for these two groups, he views mathematicians as producers of mathematical knowledge and the general public as users of this knowledge. This characterization seems to place research mathematicians in a privileged position. Finally, I explore the implications of Ernest's framework for developmental mathematics at the community college level. I discuss what his view would contribute to conversations about educational opportunity, and I use specific examples to illustrate how this framework might be used to evaluate policy and practice in this context.
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