Alf Coles

Two myths of learning mathematics and why you might want to re-think them

In this talk, I discuss two ideas about learning mathematics that have become something of a dogma – unquestioned because they seem so obvious. These are (1) that maths is building block subject, and (2) that maths is value free. I will show how these dogmas can serve to exacerbate inequalities in the learning of mathematics. I will offer theoretical and practical arguments bringing the assumptions behind these dogmas, or myths, into question. We will end with discussion of implications for teaching at University level.