Discourse Perspective of Geometric Thoughts


Book Description

Sasha Wang revisits the van Hiele model of geometric thinking with Sfard’s discursive framework to investigate geometric thinking from a discourse perspective. The author focuses on describing and analyzing pre-service teachers’ geometric discourse across different van Hiele levels. The explanatory power of Sfard’s framework provides a rich description of how pre-service teachers think in the context of quadrilaterals. It also contributes to our understanding of human thinking that is illustrated through the analysis of geometric discourse accompanied by vignettes.




The Learning and Teaching of Geometry in Secondary Schools


Book Description

IMPACT (Interweaving Mathematics Pedagogy and Content for Teaching) is an exciting new series of texts for teacher education which aims to advance the learning and teaching of mathematics by integrating mathematics content with the broader research and theoretical base of mathematics education. The Learning and Teaching of Geometry in Secondary Schools reviews past and present research on the teaching and learning of geometry in secondary schools and proposes an approach for design research on secondary geometry instruction. Areas covered include: teaching and learning secondary geometry through history; the representations of geometric figures; students’ cognition in geometry; teacher knowledge, practice and, beliefs; teaching strategies, instructional improvement, and classroom interventions; research designs and problems for secondary geometry. Drawing on a team of international authors, this new text will be essential reading for experienced teachers of mathematics, graduate students, curriculum developers, researchers, and all those interested in exploring students’ study of geometry in secondary schools.




Integrated Approaches to STEM Education


Book Description

This book provides a platform for international scholars to share evidence for effective practices in integrated STEM education and contributes to the theoretical and practical knowledge gained from the diversity of approaches. Many publications on STEM education focus on one or two of the separate STEM disciplines without considering the potential for delivering STEM curriculum as an integrated approach.This publication analyzes the efficacy of an integrated STEM curriculum and instruction, providing evidence to examine and support various integrations. The volume focuses on the problems seen by academics working in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and provides valuable, high quality research outcomes and a set of valued practices which have demonstrated their use and viability to improve the quality of integrated STEM education.




Perspectives in Politics and Discourse


Book Description

The volume explores the vast and heterogeneous territory of Political Linguistics, structuring and developing its concepts, themes and methodologies into combined and coherent Analysis of Political Discourse (APD). Dealing with an extensive and representative variety of topics and domains - political rhetoric, mediatized communication, ideology, politics of language choice, etc. - it offers uniquely systematic, theoretically grounded insights in how language is used to perform power-enforcing/imbuing practices in social interaction, and how it is deployed for communicating decisions concerning language itself. The twenty chapters in the volume, written by specialists in political linguistics, (critical) discourse analysis, pragmatics, sociolinguistics, and social psychology, address the diversity of political discourse to propose novel perspectives from which common analytic procedures can be drawn and followed. The volume is thus an essential resource for anyone looking for a coherent research agenda in explorations of political discourse as a point of reference for their own academic activities, both scholarly and didactic. "Politics in today's world consists of almost continuous interconnected talking and writing in a constantly expanding media universe. This comprehensive collection of papers edited by Urszula Okulska and Piotr Cap helps readers to get a hold on the flow of discourse that constitutes politics today. Indispensible for anyone seeking perspectives for understanding the language of politics and research methods for probing beyond the surface."




The Discourse of Conflict and Crisis


Book Description

This book explores the linguistic patterns of conflict, crisis and threat generation in Polish political rhetoric that have been at the heart of state-level policies since the Law and Justice (PiS) Party came to power in October 2015. Analysing a vast corpus of speeches, statements and remarks by prominent Law and Justice Party politicians, this book sheds light on internal parliamentary and presidential discourse against opponents of the government, before widening its lens to Poland's strained relations with the EU regarding refugee distribution and immigration. Drawing on theories from contemporary critical discourse studies and critical-cognitive pragmatics, the book shows how the crisis, conflict and threat elements in these discourses produce public coercion and strengthen the Party's leadership. Piotr Cap extends his argument further to examine discursive examples from Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Austria, Italy and the UK, highlighting the correlation between the Law and Justice Party and broader socio-political and rhetorical trends in contemporary Europe. The result is an authoritative panorama of the mutual dependencies and shared discursive strategies of European right-wing groups.




International Perspectives on the Teaching and Learning of Geometry in Secondary Schools


Book Description

This book presents current perspectives on theoretical and empirical issues related to the teaching and learning of geometry at secondary schools. It contains chapters contributing to three main areas. A first set of chapters examines mathematical, epistemological, and curricular perspectives. A second set of chapters presents studies on geometry instruction and teacher knowledge, and a third set of chapters offers studies on geometry thinking and learning. Specific research topics addressed also include teaching practice, learning trajectories, learning difficulties, technological resources, instructional design, assessments, textbook analyses, and teacher education in geometry. Geometry remains an essential and critical topic in school mathematics. As they learn geometry, students develop essential mathematical thinking and visualization skills and learn a language that helps them relate to and interact with the physical world. Geometry has traditionally been included as a subject of study in secondary mathematics curricula, but it has also featured as a resource in out-of-school problem solving, and has been connected to various human activities such as sports, games, and artwork. Furthermore, geometry often plays a role in teacher preparation, undergraduate mathematics, and at the workplace. New technologies, including dynamic geometry software, computer-assisted design software, and geometric positioning systems, have provided more resources for teachers to design environments and tasks in which students can learn and use geometry. In this context, research on the teaching and learning of geometry will continue to be a key element on the research agendas of mathematics educators, as researchers continue to look for ways to enhance student learning and to understand student thinking and teachers’ decision making.




The SAGE Dictionary of Criminology


Book Description

`If the First Edition was an invaluable guide for students, the Second is well nigh indispensable. I can think of no better starting point for those wanting a "quick fix" on any given criminological topic' - Professor Tony Jefferson, Keele University `Since its initial publication in 2001, I've steadfastly kept The SAGE Dictionary of Criminology within easy reach of my desk, referring to it countless times in writing articles, books, and lectures. I've found it to be a remarkable book - a comprehensive dictionary, certainly, but as much so a significant achievement in intellectual inquiry. It may seem odd to say of a dictionary, but it really is one of my favourite books; the only book that can replace it on my deskside bookshelf is this Second Edition, whose new entries confirm the editors' grasp of contemporary criminology in all its excitement and complexity' - Professor Jeff Ferrell, Texas Christian University `The welcome inclusion of entries on contemporary theoretical and policy concerns ranging from Anti Social Behaviour, Eco crime and Emotions through Forensic Anthropology, Globalisation, Governance and Mentoring to Sex Crime, Virtual Criminology and What Works?, adds to the well established strengths of the first edition. The entries, all written by established scholars, provide a clear, concise and critical introduction to criminological concepts and constitute an invaluable resource for all criminology students and academics' - Professor Hazel Croall, Glasgow Caledonian University 'It is unusual for a dictionary to be interesting, but this one manages to be both compelling and useful for faculty and students across a range of disciplines and orientations who are commonly interested in criminology. The SAGE Dictionary of Criminology is also distinctive in providing a literally encyclopaedic compendium of information that has been carefully placed in social, cultural and political contexts.' - Professor Lynn Chancer, Hunter College, City University of New York `The list of new entries is quite impressive. Once you've read them, you start to wonder how come that the First Edition of The SAGE Dictionary of Criminology already felt so complete' - Dr René van Swaaningen, Erasmus University, Rotterdam `Thoughtful evaluations of the key concepts criminologists must think about by quality contributors who include many of the world's leading criminologists' - Professor John Braithwaite, Australian National University The Second Edition of the bestselling SAGE Dictionary of Criminology is the ultimate reference tool for students of criminology and criminal justice. It provides an accessible introduction to key theories, concepts and topics, offering comprehensive guidance through the field. The editors have brought together a group of internationally prominent academics and practitioners to produce this definitive reference and research tool. Each entry contains: " a definition of the concept or topic " distinctive features offering detailed comment on the concept's origins, development and general significance " evaluation of those concepts considered to have greatest theoretical weight and lasting legacy " associated concepts for cross-referencing and mapping connections across various fields and issues " key readings to enable the student to take their knowledge further The new edition contains thirty-six new entries covering subjects such as anti-social behaviour, globalization, human trafficking and terrorism. Selected entries have been revised and updated. This comprehensive text is the essential reference point for all students of criminology and criminal justice, at all levels. Praise for the First Edition `The compilers have done criminology a tremendous service. This dictionary is an invaluable resource for students and teachers and I'm certain will be a key reference work for years to come' - Professor Tim Newburn, London School of Economics `Great dictionaries inform, intrigue and investigate. McLaughlin and Muncie's perceptive collection does all three. The SAGE Dictionary of Criminology is wide and accessible enough to interest anyone concerned with crime, the law and the panoply of issues and explanations that surround them. This admirable volume will inform, guide and contribute to debates in the years ahead' - Ellis Cashmore, Professor of Culture, Media and Sport, Staffordshire University, author of Dictionary of Race and Ethnic Relations and co-editor of Dictionary of Cultural Theorists `McLaughlin and Muncie have assembled an impressive list of international contributors and have succeeded in putting together a wonderfully entertaining book... the Dictionary belongs on every criminologist's bookshelf' - Professor George Mair, Liverpool John Moores University (Criminal Justice: An International Journal 2:2) `The main strength of the project... lies in its attempts at integration of a wide range of themes and theoretical perspectives under one set of covers' - Professor John Raine, University of Birmingham (Youth Justice 2:1) `There is a genuine international feel to the compilation as a whole.... Nowadays, such has criminology grown, it is barely possible to keep up even in a narrowly defined sub-field, and a new dictionary is essential. Anyway, we will all have to read it because our students will. What a relief that it is such a pleasure to do so' - Jason Ditton, University of Sheffield (British Journal of Criminology 43:2)




Essays in Collaborative Dynamic Geometry


Book Description

This volume includes analyses of student teams using the VMT environment with multi-user GeoGebra. These studies are related to the presentations in "Translating Euclid" and "Constructing Dynamic Triangles Together." These essays document the most recent stage of the Virtual Math Teams Project.




Contemporary Research and Perspectives on Early Childhood Mathematics Education


Book Description

This book brings together a collection of research-based papers on current issues in early childhood mathematics education that were presented in the Topic Study Group 1 (TSG 1) at the 13th International Congress on Mathematical Education (ICME-13), held at the University of Hamburg in 2016. It will help readers understand a range of key issues that early childhood mathematics educators encounter today. Research on early childhood mathematics education has grown in recent years, due in part to the well-documented, positive relation between children’s early mathematical knowledge and their later mathematics learning, and to the considerable emphasis many countries are now placing on preschool education. The book addresses a number of central questions, including: What is mathematical structural development and how can we promote it in early childhood? How can multimodality and embodiment contribute to early mathematics learning and to acquiring a better understanding of young children’s mathematical development? How can children’s informal mathematics-related experiences affect instruction and children’s learning in different mathematics content areas? What is the role of tools, including technology and picture books, in supporting early mathematics learning? What are the challenges in early childhood mathematics education for teachers’ education and professional development?




Cognitive Linguistic Approaches to Text and Discourse


Book Description

Drawing on range of text genres including novels, poems, health forums, holiday guestbooks, prayers, political songs and news stories, each chapter uses cognitive linguistics to shed light on the meanings and meaning-making processes invoked when we encounter texts belonging to different literary and political genres. The book presents new insights into the workings of textual phenomena such as metaphor, viewpoint and deixis and also sheds light on more elusive, epiphenomenal qualities such as a text's ambience, atmosphere, power, ideology or persuasiveness. It also takes new strides in cognitive text analysis by exploiting experimental and ethnographic methods to empirically investigate readers' reception of, and resistance to, texts.