Springer Critical Issues in Mathematics Education: Major Contributions of Alan Bishop

Here are presented the contributions of Professor Alan Bishop within the mathematics education research community. Six critical issues in the development of mathematics education research are reviewed and the current developments in each area are discussed. Review From the reviews:“The book is a Festschrift, written in honor of Alan Bishop by colleagues and graduates, who tell the story of his life and academic work … . To conclude, not only are the editors’ goals met, but the book also succeeds in developing interesting insights that can be extended beyond the field of mathematics education. The extent and reach of Bishop’s ideas presented and discussed in this Festschrift give a clear impression of the kind of shoulders on which his followers stood.” (Irit Peled, The International Journal on Mathematics Education, Vol. 42, 2010) From the Back Cover Critical Issues in Mathematics Education presents the significant contributions of Professor Alan Bishop within the mathematics education research community. Six critical issues, each of which have had paramount importance in the development of mathematics education research, are reviewed and include a discussion of current developments in each area. Teacher decision making, spatial/visualizing geometry, teachers and research, cultural/social aspects of mathematics education, socio political issues, and values serve as the basic issues discussed in this examination of mathematics education over the last fifty years during which Professor Bishop has been active in the field. A comprehensive discussion of each of these topics is realized by offering the reader a classic research contribution of Professor Bishop’s together with commentary and invited chapters from leading experts in the field of mathematics education. Critical Issues in Mathematics Education will make an invaluable contribution to the ongoing reflection of mathematic education researchers worldwide, but also to policy makers and teacher educators who wish to understand some of the key issues with which mathematics education has been and still is concerned, and the context within which Professor Bishop’s key contributions to these research issues were made.