A novel teacher training program explores how to integrate critical thinking and social awareness into mathematics education, specifically focusing on climate change.
Critical mathematics education (CME) aims to equip students with the skills to analyze and critique how mathematics is used in society. This study delves into how educators themselves can be trained to incorporate a CME approach by examining a teacher education course focused on statistics within the context of climate change.
Beyond Calculations: The Challenge of Critical Statistics
The study acknowledges the inherent challenge student teachers face when transitioning from viewing statistics as a purely computational tool to a critical lens for analyzing social issues. Here, actor-network theory (ANT) comes into play.
ANT: Understanding the Network of Influences
ANT proposes that learning is shaped by a network of “actants,” which can be anything from people and objects to ideas and social forces. By analyzing these actants, researchers can understand how student teachers’ perspectives are formed.
The Teacher’s Role: Navigating Complexity
This study interviewed student teachers who participated in a statistics course where they analyzed pollution data graphs. Through the lens of ANT, researchers investigated how the student teachers envisioned their role as future educators when incorporating a CME perspective.
The Actants Shaping Critical Math Educators
The analysis revealed various actants influencing the student teachers’ evolving perspectives. These included:
- The Curriculum: How pre-established educational frameworks impact lesson planning and content delivery.
- Social Justice: Integrating the ethical implications of data analysis into mathematics education.
- Democracy: Equipping students with the mathematical skills needed to engage meaningfully in democratic processes.
- Source Critique: Developing critical thinking skills to evaluate the reliability and potential biases within data sets.
A Call for Open Discussion and Critical Reflection
Based on these findings, the study recommends fostering open discussions within teacher education programs to acknowledge and navigate the complexities inherent in a CME approach.
Benefits of a Critical Approach to CME
Encouraging critical reflection on CME itself allows student teachers to move beyond simply adopting this methodology. Instead, they gain the skills to navigate its complexities in the classroom, fostering a deeper understanding of how mathematics intersects with real-world issues.
This approach empowers future educators to equip their students with not just mathematical skills but also the critical thinking tools needed to analyze, question, and engage with the world around them. Ultimately, this can lead to a more informed and responsible citizenry.
The study paves the way for innovative teacher education programs that equip future educators with the skills to bridge the gap between traditional math instruction and critical social analysis.