This paper engages with recent theoretical and empirical studies relating to the inter-generational transmission of social, economic and educational characteristics. It considers the different ways in which the role of the family has been conceptualized in this work and discusses some of the results of empirical studies of family roles in relation…

This article focuses on improving schools in difficult or disadvantaged contexts. It explores the contemporary policy discourse and intervention strategies aimed at improving schools in such circumstances. It argues that contemporary approaches to improvement are unlikely to succeed because the approaches adopted are not sufficiently…

This paper is the "Discussion Document" for a forthcoming ICMI Study on "Applications and Modelling in Mathematics Education." As will be well-known, from time to time ICMI (the International Commission on Mathematical Instruction) mounts specific studies in order to investigate, both in depth and in detail, particular fields of interest in…

Observes the origins of the international journal "Educational Studies in Mathematics (ESM)" in 1968 and traces its later development as it responded to changes in mathematics education. Examines the contributions of its editors in defining its spirit, policy, and procedures as they directed its growth and transformation into a leading journal of…

Explores commonalities across and differences between learners in mathematics classrooms. Explores commonalities between learners across mathematics and between communities of practice. Discusses how to address teachers' roles and responsibilities. Investigates differences between syllabus and practice, school mathematics, mathematics in the…

Proposes a model of doctoral student persistence and attrition in which student participation in the life of the department and discipline lead to increased student integration which is crucial for student success. Discusses students' obstacles to participation and implications for the retention of mathematics doctoral students. (Author/KHR)

Observes the meanings that pre-service teachers attribute to pupil errors and how these meanings evolved over the course of a 15-week course in mathematics education. Identifies preservice teachers' analyses of pupil errors as well as the interventions they suggested to rectify these errors. Discusses epistemological positioning that creates…

Explores the challenge of providing all future citizens with an appropriate quantitative literacy by means of teaching mathematics through useful applications with local and global perspectives. (Author/KHR)

Responds to F. Uhlig's article on linear algebra that appeared in an earlier edition of this journal. (KHR)

Underlines the common points in F. Uhlig's approach published in an earlier issue of this journal about the question of proof in linear algebra. Describes some of his ideas in a new light and gives perspective for a further didactical development of Uhlig's first experiments. (Author/KHR)

Reports survey results on proof conceptions. Presents an overview of responses at the end of year 8 (age 13 years) and year 9 (age 14 years). Distinguishes three strategies--empirical, focused-empirical, and focused-deductive--that represent shifts in attention from an inductive to a deductive approach. Indicates some progress from year 8 to year…

Investigates students' abilities to draw inferences. Introduces cognitive conflict in the form of video clips of reasoning expressed by students. Documents change with regard to the levels of observed response for the protocol and the use of displayed variation in the graphs. Analyzes change associated with the presentation of cognitive conflict.…

Distinguishes two conceptions of sample and sampling that emerged in the context of a teaching experiment conducted in a high school statistics class. Suggests that the conception of a sample as a quasi- proportional, small-scale version of the population is a powerful one to target for instruction. (Author/KHR)

Investigates the conditions and constraints of the integration of the dynamic geometry software Cabri into the teaching of geometry in primary school classes (10-year-old pupils). Focuses on the way the dialectic between old and new is working during this integration, looking at the types of tasks and techniques proposed in class by teachers.…

Analyzes prospective teachers' opportunities to connect subject matter with workplace contexts. Examines the degree of importance prospective teachers place on workplace connections and the ways in which they incorporate these connections into classroom lesson plans. Suggests implications for teacher education and the support prospective teachers…