Trends in Brazilian academic production in the History of Mathematics Education: directions from EBRAPEM

The number of papers on History of Mathematics Education presented at EBRAPEM (Brazilian Meeting of Graduate Students in Mathematics Education) has increased significantly between 2003 and 2008. This article presents a study with the aim of identifying themes, periods in focus, and sources and theoretical and methodological references used by the authors of the papers on History of Mathematics Education published in the proceedings of VII, VIII, IX, X, XI and XII EBRAPEM. The study indicates that the approach of ongoing research in History of Mathematics Education in Brazil has been similar to the approach of research in History of Education in general. However, the institutional separation between these two areas of investigation is noted as a factor rendering communication between both groups of researchers difficult.

Dynamics of change of mathematics education in Brazil and a scenario of current research

Mathematics education in Brazil, if we consider what one may call the scientific phase, is about 30 years old. The papers for this special issue focus mainly on this period. During these years, many trends have emerged in mathematics education to address the complex problems facing Brazilian society. However, most Brazilian mathematics educators feel that the separation of research into trends is a theoretical idealization that does not respond to the dynamics of the problems we face. We raise the conjecture that the complexity of Brazilian society, where pockets of wealth coexist with the most shocking poverty, has contributed to the adoption and generation of different strands in mathematics education, crossing the boundaries between trends. At a more micro level, we also raise the conjecture that Brazilian trends in research are interwoven because of the way that Brazilian mathematics educators have experienced the process of globalization over these 30 years. This tapestry of trends is a predominant characteristic of mathematics education in Brazil. © FIZ Karlsruhe 2009.

Phenomenological perspective on mathematics education

This is a philosophical essay on a phenomenological way to understand and to work out Mathematics Education. Its philosophical grounding is the Husserlian work, focusing on its key word "going to the things themselves" in order to keep us away from the theoretical educational truth, took as the unique one. We assume the attitude of being on the life-world with the students and Mathematics as a field of research and practice that show and express themselves through lived experiences and through language. We assume to be in search of understanding of education, learning and Mathematics, as we take care, consciously, of what we are doing and saying in the same movement of saying and doing it.

Análise Narrativa em Trabalhos de História da Educação Matemática: algumas considerações

This paper presents some reflections on the use of narrative analysis as a possible approach to study the History of (Mathematics) Education, mainly to interpret historical situations and biographical data. Its perspective is linked to Walter Benjamin's ideas about the figure of the narrator and how the dialogue between narrator and historian can be seen. Following the perspective of another author, Benedito Nunes, we try to establish relations among narratives, fiction and historiography, also highlighting the ideas of Jorge Larrosa regarding the transmission of experiences. Finally, our focus is turned to Antonio Bolivar and his alternative statements about why and how analysis of investigations, in which narratives are the main source of data, can be done.

Um Exerci{dotless acute}cio Filosófico sobre a Pesquisa em Educação Matemática no Brasil

In this research we present a meta-comprehension about the research on Mathematics Education developed in Brazil through an hermeneutical analysis of the texts presented and discussed on the III SIPEM - International Seminar on Mathematics Education occurred on 2006. We present the trends that were identified in the research and emphasize the interrogations, questions and problems they address as well as their scientific, philosophical, and methodological rigor. We present the nucleus of ideas present in Mathematics Education research in Brazil as we transcend the individual production of research, focusing on the references of national and international authors. We conclude that the research analyzed has been clearly designed, introducing conceptions of and ways of working with Mathematics that address issues related to education, society, culture, teaching, learning, and history of Mathematics Education.

Peças de uma história: formação de professores de matemática na região de Mossoró (RN)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

The modern math movement(s): an essay on how elementary school teachers in Brazil gave meaning to it

The main goal of this paper is to discuss the production of meaning of the Modern Math Movement. The main sources were data available in school archives and interviews with former teachers that we use in order to focus on the diversity of perspectives -that complement it or oppose it-, which comes up when teachers refer to the Movement. Using this process of signification, teachers whether accept it, invalidate it or adapt it to guidelines imposed to them in their teaching activities. We establish a methodology by following the premises of Oral History to gather oral testimonies. The theoretical foundations in which this article is written are the guidelines of Paul Ricoeur's Hermeneutics, John Thompson's Depth Hermeneutics and Bolivar's narrative analysis.

Narrativas: um olhar sobre o exercício historiográfico na Educação Matemática

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

A quinta história: composições da educação matemática como área de pesquisa

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

O processo constitutivo da Resolução de Problemas como uma temática da pesquisa em Educação Matemática: um inventário a partir de documentos dos ICMEs

Pós-graduação em Educação Matemática - IGCE

Outras Inquisições: apontamentos sobre sistematizações, Hermenêutica e História Oral

The starting point of this paper are some avaliable analyses and characterizations about the academic production in History of Mathematics Education in Brazil. A specific reading of such readings – an hermeneutical approach of those avaliable reviews – allows us to put the focus on some features of Oral History thought as a qualitative methodological approach to researches in Mathematics Education.