The Mathematics of Space and Motion

March 8, 2010

Martha Alibali and Mitchell Nathan are leading a team of three university groups investigating the learning and teaching of the mathematics of space and motion. Their research aims to produce a theory of embodied mathematical cognition that can apply to a broad range of people, including the technical workforce, classroom teachers, and curriculum designers. One study setting is an extended summer program for talented high school students that recruits from racially diverse and/or economically disadvantaged communities. Another is methods courses for secondary pre-service mathematics teachers. This research involves professional mathematicians, graduate students in mathematics, professionals working with mapping and spatial analysis, pre-service high school mathematics teachers, high school students, pre-engineering vocational students, and talented middle and high school youth.