Experiencing Critical Mathematics Education

Abstract

When students ponder why they consider it relevant to learn math it becomes apparent that their attributions of relevance do not meet what educational policies state as goals. While they generally consider the subject to be important, their explanations why they do so are limited to only elementary mathematical skills needed in everyday life or unspecified skills for later work life, rarely connecting them to broader societal topics. Integrating Critical Mathematics Education (CME) tasks into math lessons might be a chance to let attributions of relevance evolve further. This contribution shows in how far the students’ perspectives on the relevance of math changed after they experienced several CME units. 16 students from three different schools have participated in two rounds of interviews where they have been asked about their image of math and math learning and if and what they consider relevant. Within the second round of interviews, after they experienced several CME units, additional questions about their experiences in these lessons have been added. The analysis shows that students’ general attribution of relevance did not change considerably. However, effects could be identified in their reflections about the CME units. Students talked about how these units let them experience a connection between math and societal topics that leads to a more personal and direct relevance of math for their lives. However, their understanding of what counts as doing math might hinder them to easily transfer their experiences within these units to their general attributions of relevance of math. If teachers regularly include CME tasks into their math lessons and make reflections on what mathematical activities have been applied to make sense of them an integral part of instruction, CME seems to offer the opportunity for students to broaden their conceptions of math and experience connections between math and societal topics more clearly.