Developing a culturally relevant mathematics curriculum using transdisciplinary approaches

Developing a culturally relevant mathematics curriculum using transdisciplinary approaches

Catherine P. Vistro-Yu cvistro-yu@ateneo.edu Ateneo de Manila University
Summary: 
One of the articulated values of mathematics education in the Philippines is cultural rootedness. It refers to one’s appreciation of the value of mathematics in a community that includes the origins of mathematics in one’s culture, its rich history, evolution, and development. For students to capture the multi-faceted nature of mathematics and appreciate its relevance in their lives, different aspects of mathematics should be considered separately and perhaps, taught independently in schools. The cultural-historical dimension of mathematics is one such aspect. In this presentation, some initiatives in producing culturally and historically relevant mathematics lessons for primary and secondary schools in the Philippines will be shared. To expand these mathematics curriculum innovations, transdisciplinarity as an alternative perspective and approach is considered and applied in the context of an art movement in Manila. Recommendations to help sustain similar curriculum innovations in schools will be offered.
Keywords: 
cultural value of mathematics
school mathematics curriculum
nature of mathematics
transdisciplinarity
curriculum innovation
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