“It Is Too Perfect for Nature”: Exploring Discussions About the Relationship Between Nature and Mathematics

• In Event: Thursday Roundtable Session 9:00 am
  In Roundtable Session: Engagement and Mathematical Creativity (Table 11)

Abstract

Math walks are an informal learning activity where people explore everyday spaces to make connections between mathematics and the real-world. However, these connections are neither obvious nor settled (Bang et al., 2013). We draw on nature-culture relations to understand how youths reason about mathematics and its relationship to the real world on math walks. We investigated a spring break camp where a group of youths and facilitators participated in math walks at The Nature Center. Using techniques from interaction analysis, we identified and analyzed a focal case where youths and a facilitator argue about the relationship between mathematics and the real world. This research expands our understanding about the various nature-culture relations which are reproduced in informal math learning environments.

Authors

• Maximilian Sherard, University of North Texas

• Marc Sager, Southern Methodist University

• Saki L. Milton, Southern Methodist University

• Koshi Dhingra, talkSTEM

• Anthony J. Petrosino, Southern Methodist University

• Candace A. Walkington, Southern Methodist University