Experienced Weavers' Engagement With Mathematics

• In Event: Artistic and Other Informal Learning Environments

Abstract

Mathematics remains a gatekeeper in schools (e.g., Moses & Cobb 2001); educators and researchers must carefully consider how diverse mathematical practices can be recognized and valued. To explore how math is recognized in the craft of weaving, I interviewed 22 experienced weavers about their experiences. Participants also provided images of items they wove. Through qualitative analyses (e.g., Glaser & Strauss, 1967), data revealed that adult weavers describe and use math in their weaving in simultaneous and overlapping ways: arithmetic and calculations, image and shape transformations, and multiple embedded patternings. When educators understand math engagement in broader ways, we can begin to better value intellectual work and open up more potential future pathways for learners in mathematics.

Author

• Naomi Thompson, Northwestern University