Epistemology and didactics: new epistemological tools for a new teaching paradigm

DidMat seminar with Ignasi Florensa, U. Ramon Llull, Barcelona.

Abstract:

At the crossroads of didactics and epistemology, many problematic issues emerge. These issues, described under the perspective of the Anthropological Theory of the Didactic, can be formulated as follows:

• The alternative epistemological models built by researchers to analyse the mathematical content at stake, how do they take into account the phenomena arising from empirical teaching and learning processes?
• To what extend could these models be useful for teachers and students?
• Which degree of explicitness should be adopted with epistemology-related contents in teacher professional development courses, and also with the students?

All these questions have been partially tackled in three empirical works. First, a Study and Research Path for a third year course of a Mechanical Engineering Degree. Second, an online in-service mathematics teacher education course about “The nature of mathematical thinking”. Finally, a Study and Research Path for Teacher Education addressed to a group of lecturers of an Engineering School. We will present the results of these experiences and some preliminary and partial answers to the stated questions.