[RUME] Re: ARUME-LIST and Math Ed Readings

[Mercedes McGowen]

I'd like to echo David's comments and recommend another "essential 
reading" that, while not focused specifically on mathematics is very 
relevant: James E. Zull: The Art of Changing the Brain:  Enriching 
the Practice of Teaching by Exploring the Biology of Learning (2002) 
VA: Stylus Publishing LLC. ISBN 1-57922-054-1 (paperback).

Using stories from his own experience as a teacher, Zull makes a 
persuasive argument grounded in emerging brain research that learning 
is change and is a natural outcome of experience. He illustrates how 
knowing more about how the structures of the brain develop and 
interact are the foundations for understanding the biology of 
learning. The realization that learning actually alters the brain by 
changing the number and strength of synapses deepens our 
understanding of what learning is actually about-the art of creating 
conditions that lead to change in a learner's brain-and offers a 
powerful foundation for rethinking teaching practice and one's 
philosophy of teaching.

Zull  describing the brain in clear nontechnical language, relating 
what is known about the brain, its functions and parts, together with 
their interactions, to the world of the classroom. A  most 
informative and thought-provoking book.

  Mercedes

>The work of Sheila Tobias that comes to my mind is called (I think) 
>"Stalking the Second Tier: They're Not Dumb, They're Different". 
>It's more about science ed, but the prinicples are the same for math 
>ed.  Another I have found helpful is "Women's Ways of Knowing" by M. 
>Belenky et al.  I have argued elsewhere (see 
>http://www.math.duke.edu/~das/essays/) that math ed is not so 
>different from ________ ed (fill in the blank) as we sometimes 
>think.  Thus, "essential readings" often include research about 
>learning that may not be focused specifically on mathematics.
>
>       David
>
>--
>David A. Smith
>Editor, The Journal of Online Mathematics and its Applications
>e-mail:            das at math.duke.edu
>Personal site:     http://www.math.duke.edu/~das
>JOMA site:         http://www.joma.org/
>Voice: 919-489-5515, Fax: 919-660-2821
>Mail:  1408 Shepherd St., Durham NC 27707
>
>
>
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-- 
Dr. Mercedes McGowen
Professor Emerita
William Rainey Harper College
Department of Mathematical Sciences
1200 W. Algonquin Road
Palatine, IL 60067-7398

Phone: (630) 837-2482
Fax:   (847) 925-6049

Email: mmcgowen at harpercollege.edu