Oral History and Mathematics Education

This book presents an innovative method to investigate the history of mathematics education using oral narratives to study different aspects related to the teaching and learning of mathematics. The application of oral history in mathematics education research was first developed as a method in Brazil in the early 2000s as a result of interdisciplinary dialogues between mathematics educators, anthropologists, sociologists, historians, psychologists, artists and philosophers. Since then, this new methodology has attracted the attention of a growing number of researchers. This contributed volume is the first book in English to bring together chapters written by different members of the research group who developed the methodology and to present a comprehensive overview of the theoretical and practical aspects of the use of oral narratives in the study of experiences in mathematics classrooms. 

Oral History and Mathematics Education will be a useful tool to researchers and educators looking for new methods to study the dynamics of teaching and learning mathematics in the classroom and to develop innovative mathematics teacher education programs. The volume will also be of interest to historians of education since it describes the foundations of both concepts and procedures related to the application of oral history in educational research, always giving examples of studies already conducted and, whenever possible, suggesting possible research exercises.

• Mathematics education
• Oral history
• History of mathematics education
• Teaching and learning mathematics
• Mathematics teacher education
• Research methods in mathematics education
• Oral narratives in mathematics education

“This book provides the reader with a balance of theoretical and practical aspects of the use of oral narratives in mathematics education and would be a useful addition to the bookshelf of anyone conducting research in this area.” (Blain Patterson, MAA Reviews, January 12, 2020)

• Mathematics Department, Sao Paulo State University, Bauru, Brazil

  Antonio Vicente Marafioti Garnica

Antonio Vicente Marafioti Garnica is a professor in the Graduate Program in Mathematics Education at the São Paulo State University (UNESP), Brazil, an internationally renowned and the oldest graduate program in mathematics education in Latin America. He holds a PhD in mathematics education from this same program and a postdoctoral degree from Indiana University, and has conducted research internships at the University of Lisbon. He is the editor-in-chief of the oldest and best-rated journal of Mathematics Education in Brazil, the Mathematical Education Bulletin (BOLEMA), created in 1985. Widely recognized for his production in the field of education, he works as advisor to the most important research evaluation and sponsoring institutions in Brazil. He is also the coordinator of the Oral History and Mathematics Education Research Group (Grupo de Pesquisa História Oral e Educação Matemática - GHOEM).

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