Math in the Middle Institute Partnership
Date of this Version
7-2007
Abstract
When asked to think about a foreign country the first thing that comes to my mind is the language barrier and the customs that accompany that specific country. The culture of the citizens and how it differs from my culture are also things which peak my interest. Things which I view as “normal” may seem very odd to someone who lives thousands of miles away, and likewise, traditions that have been past down from generations of people from distant lands may seem peculiar to me. These customs and cultures of which I speak are also the things that make this world such an interesting place to live, study, and explore. One might think that mathematics has no place in a discussion of different cultures and worldly studies, citing that mathematics is purely numbers and the manipulation that occurs between them. However, adopting this train of thought would be closing the door and the mind on a topic that is bridging cultural gaps from around the globe. This relatively new field of study is called Ethnomathematics.
Comments
In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Arts in Teaching with a Specialization in the Teaching of Middle Level Mathematics in the Department of Mathematics. Gordon Woodward, Advisor July 2007