Microworlds/Schoolworlds: The Transformation of an Innovation

Abstract

This chapter is about microworlds - about computational worlds where mathematical ideas are expressed and developed. It will seek to show how the very essence of these worlds is moulded and shaped by the discourses into which they are inserted - whether the research community or the school classroom. It raises the question what is a microworld and will attempt to address it by tracing the etymology of the word. This story tracks the subtle changes in the meaning of ‘microworld’ - from its genesis within universities and research laboratories to its incorporation into school practice. The analysis demonstrates the difficulty in attempting to characterise a microworld in ontological terms, seeking rather to identify how and why different characteristics have been taken on board as part of their adoption within various discourses. So where did the story begin?