Making connections : : comparing mathematics classrooms around the world / / edited by David Clarke [and three others].

• Superior document: The Learner’s Perspective Study ; 2
• TeilnehmendeR: Clarke, David, 1952-
• Place / Publishing House: Rotterdam, Netherlands ;, Taipei : : Sense Publishers,, [2006]; ©2006
• Year of Publication: 2006
• Language: English
• Series: The Learner’s Perspective Study ; 2.
• Physical Description: 1 online resource
• Notes: Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

In this book, comparisons are made between the practices of classrooms in a variety of different school systems around the world. The abiding challenge for classroom research is the realization of structure in diversity. The structure in this case takes the form of patterns of participation: regularities in the social practices of mathematics classrooms. The expansion of our field of view to include international rather than just local classrooms increases the diversity and heightens the challenge of the search for structure, while increasing the significance of any structures, once found. In particular, this book reports on the use of ‘lesson events’ as an entry point for the analysis of lesson structure. International research offers opportunities to study settings and characteristics untenable in the researcher’s local situation. Importantly, international comparative studies can reveal possibilities for practice that would go unrecognized within the established norms of educational practice of one country or one culture. Our capacity to conceive of alternatives to our current practice is constrained by deep-rooted assumptions, reflecting cultural and societal values that we lack the perspective to question. The comparisons made possible by international research facilitate our identification and interrogation of these assumptions. Such interrogation opens up possibilities for innovation that might not otherwise be identified, expanding the repertoire of mathematics teachers internationally, and providing the basis for theory development.

Table of Contents

Preliminary Material / David Clarke , Eva Jablonka , Jonas Emanuelsson and Ida Ah Chee Mok -- The Learner's Perspective Study and International Comparisons of Classroom Practice / David Clarke , Jonas Emanuelsson , Eva Jablonka and Ida Ah Chee Mok -- Addressing the Challenge of Legitimate International Comparisons: Lesson Structure in the USA, Germany and Japan / David Clarke , Carmel Mesiti , Eva Jablonka and Yoshinori Shimizu -- Beginning the Lesson: The First Ten Minutes / Carmel Mesiti and David Clarke -- Kikan-Shido: Between Desks Instruction / Catherine O'Keefe , Li Hua Xu and David Clarke -- Student(s) at the Front: Forms and Functions in Six Classrooms from Germany, Hong Kong and the United States / Eva Jablonka -- How Do You Conclude Today's Lesson? The Form and Functions of 'Matome' in Mathematics Lessons / Yoshinori Shimizu -- 'Learning Task' Lesson Events / Ida Ah Chee Mok and Berinderjeet Kaur -- Interaction, Organisation, Tasks and Possibilities for Learning about Mathematical Relationships: A Swedish Classroom Compared with a US Classroom / Johan Liljestrand and Ulla Runesson -- The Introduction of New Content: What is Possible to Learn? / Johan Häggström -- A Study of Mathematics Teachers' Constraints in Changing Practices: Some Lessons from Countries Participating in the Learner's Perspective Study / Herbert Bheki Khuzwayo -- Deconstructing Dichotomies: Arguing for a more Inclusive Approach / David Clarke -- The LPS Research Design / David Clarke -- Author Index / David Clarke , Eva Jablonka , Jonas Emanuelsson and Ida Ah Chee Mok -- Subject Index / David Clarke , Eva Jablonka , Jonas Emanuelsson and Ida Ah Chee Mok -- Further Reading / David Clarke , Eva Jablonka , Jonas Emanuelsson and Ida Ah Chee Mok.