Adult students' views of mathematics : reflections on projects

In this article, we investigate adult mathematics students’ ideas about mathematics and learning, based on their written reflections on the process of carrying out projects as part of a preparatory mathematics course at an Australian university. On the basis of these reflections, we categorise their conceptions of mathematics using a hierarchical classification previously developed in the context of undergraduate university study in mathematics. We discuss the various aspects of the projects and their studies that help at least some of them to take broader conceptions of mathematics with them into their future professional and personal lives.10 page(s