Teaching and Learning Mathematics : Some past and current approaches to mathematics education

Today mathematics education arouses the interest of various subjects: not only insiders, such as mathematicians, teachers, pedagogists, philosophers, and psychologists, but also policy makers and entrepreneurs. Although the debate on mathematics education is lively and multi-faceted, it is often its socio-economic impact, more than other aspects, that comes under the spotlight. Mathematical competence, problem solving, mathematical skills required for technological development and in everyday life are indeed the keywords of mathematics education today. However, looking into the past or to the future, other issues and new challenges are brought into light, and we are led to recognize some surprising resemblances between the approaches in different historical periods or even, mutatis mutandis, some common structures or similar concerns. The contributions collected in this volume present different perspectives (past and present) on mathematics education. Some contemporary theories are taken into account and analyzed in order to bring out and clarify the key points of the current debates and stimulate discussion in view of future developments. Since the topic is complex and involves different disciplinary areas, we have invited mathematicians, historians of mathematics, psychologists, philosophers and researchers concerned with these issues to lead us in the exploration of the different aspects of mathematics education