An Optimal Grip on Mathematics: An Embodied Critical Inquiry into Problem-Solving

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Sunday 7:45 am - Gold 2
  In Roundtable Session: Constructing New Understandings of Learning in Mathematics and Science Education

Abstract

This study examines the creative, embodied problem-solving strategies of six physically disabled rock climbers across climbing and mathematics. Challenging the traditional view of math as a disembodied process, we adopt an enactivist framework, which posits that thinking is inseparable from bodily movement. Using the concept of affordances, we explore how participants navigate environmental constraints. By centering their lived experiences, we find that problem-solving is shaped by their unique embodiment and the inaccessible environments they face. Our findings reveal a humanizing framework with six elements: dispositions, strategies, expertise, affect, efficiency, and environmental factors. This work ultimately reframes math education to be more holistic and embodied, valuing diverse approaches by engaging the whole person.

Authors

• Gabriela M. Hernandez, San Diego State University

• Christian Kronsted, Merrimack College