About mathematics education
Mathematics education is the science of teaching and learning mathematics. Linnaeus University offers courses and continuing professional development for all stages at school, as well as a research programme.
Mathematics is one of the oldest sciences and an important foundation for many other subjects.To become a good teacher in mathematics, however, a sound knowledge of mathematics is not enough. You also need to know how the pupils learn and how you yourself teach, in order to be able to transfer the desired knowledge to them in the best possible way.
These understandings belong to the subject mathematics education, which is the science of teaching and learning mathematics. Within this subject, systematic research in both theory and practise tries to answer a number of questions regardning how mathematics should be taught. Some of the many questions that arise are what the teaching should contain and when, how, where and why the teaching should be applied. The perspective is just as much the pupil's as the teacher's.
Why study mathematics education?
Mathematics education is often studied as a part of a teacher education programme, in order to learn how one can teach mathematics in a good way. Already practising teachers, at stages from preschool to upper-secondary school, can take supplementary courses or some other type of further education to improve their knowledge.
It is also possible to use one's knowledge of mathematics education in a more theoretical and/or comprehensive way. As a teacher or researcher in mathematics education at a university, for example, or by workning as an educational planner at a higher, perhaps national level.
Mathematics education at Linnaeus University
At Linnaeus University you can study both mathematics, mathematics education and mathematical statistics. The subject mathematics education has expanded heavily during the last ten years. Here you'll find experienced teachers with a background in pedagogy and mathematics education workning together with PhD mathematicians and doctoral students in mathematics education. We also have a professor in mathematics education and a visiting professor in pedagogy. Based on our experiences, we have developed a wide range of courses and further educations for all stages, from preschool to upper-secondary school.
But we are more than just all-round. We also offer a Master course (one year) as well as a research programme. Our own research focuses on the areas Makings of mathematics teacher and Gifted education. In all, some 50 employees work within the mathematics subjects, mainly in Växjö.