Notes from the Immediate Past Conference in 2018: Making Mathematics Meaningful for Students
September 20th - 22nd, 2018, Frank Eade and colleagues hosted the Sixth International Realistic Mathematics Education Conference (RME6) for the first time in the Caribbean (Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands). This three-day conference was supported by the Cayman Islands Ministry of Education. the Freudenthal Institute (FI), the Freudenthal Group at Utrecht University, and the University of Colorado - Boulder School of Education, Freudenthal Institute US (FIUS).
This conference showcased research and practical workshops focused on Realistic Mathematics Education (RME), a Dutch approach to the design of curriculum, assessment and instruction that is widely respected throughout the world as an exemplary approach to mathematics education. The Committee decided to host the conference in Grand Cayman as it realized that, as well as being a beautiful island to hold a conference, countries in the Caribbean and Central America are particularly interested in developing approaches to mathematics teaching which focus students on problem solving, gaining number sense and developing an inner ear for mathematical decision making. We believe that the experiences worldwide of the design and implementation of RME will be really significant for all educators working to influence mathematic teaching. We also recognized the need to investigate and share Realistic Mathematics Education as a truly international endeavor.
As noted by Frank Eade: The RME practices have been the foundation of improvement in mathematics in Cayman schools. Although Cayman schools have made direct use of some RME materials such as Mathematics in Context, perhaps the strongest influence is on the use of realistic problems as a way of generating the mathematics and as a way through the mathematics. We also strongly encourage students to articulate their thinking, thus encouraging the idea of students as sense makers. Models and manipulatives are used to encourage students to become strategic thinkers rather than followers of the teachers approach. We support teachers to understand the trajectory for students experiencing mathematical development and how this knowledge informs teacher decision making.
This approach to teaching takes time to develop and we support teachers on the journey to becoming more effective through Lesson Study, coaching, sample lessons and regular professional development. As well as working with teachers we also work with schools and system leaders in order to generate coherence within and across schools.
Who Attended?
The program was organized to address the interests and needs of mathematics educators, district, state or national school leaders, professional developers, researchers, coaches and teachers engaged in mathematics education, and professionals involved in training or supporting teachers. The content of the 3-day conference addressed elementary, high school and university level mathematics.
Conference Schedule and Program (PDF)
The RME6 conference focused on the use of realistic contexts, emergent models, classroom discussions and representations in ways that support mathematical thinking. Plenary and interactive workshops explored curriculum and assessment design, teacher learning and practice, and studies of student learning.
The program included keynote speakers and 90 and 60 minute breakout sessions offered by research faculty, designers of educational resources, coaches and teachers who have engaged in ways to support understanding of mathematics from elementary through undergraduate education.
The keynote speakers and their topics were:
Betina Zolkower is an associate professor of mathematics education at Brooklyn College, City University of New York, she is particularly interested in developing teachers practices and understanding of mathematics education. She has worked extensively with educators and teachers in Argentina focusing on the use of realistic contexts and models to make mathematics more meaningful for students. Her presentation will focus on developing teachers’ practices through the use of lesson study and RME approaches and will draw on her experience in both Argentina and the USA.
Dietmar Küchemann is a researcher in mathematics education. He has a long-held interest in examining students’ developing understanding of mathematical ideas and in designing materials informed by such knowledge that can be used by teachers to facilitate learning. During his keynote session he will look at some recent materials alongside an examination of the extensive research into late primary and early high school students’ increasing competence in algebra and multiplicative reasoning.
Maarten Dolk is a researcher at the Freudenthal Institute, Netherlands. He is now an independent math education consultant and CEO of New Perspectives Online. He is particularly interested in supporting teachers through curriculum development and online support. He has worked with educators in Asia as well as co-developing an on-demand, self-directed, multi-pathway system for professional learning, New Perspectives Online. Maarten’s presentation will focus on the principles of RME using his experiences in the USA, Europe, Asia, and South Africa to illustrate these.
Paul Drijvers is a full professor in mathematics education at the Freudenthal Institute, Netherlands. His research interests include the role of ICT in mathematics education, mathematical thinking, assessment, algebra education, and teachers' professional development. Paul also works as a professor in mathematics education at HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht. In his contribution, Paul will address key aspects of Realistic Mathematics Education that will be illustrated by examples from secondary mathematics education. From a more personal perspective, he will explain the talk’s title: the (he)art of Realistic Mathematics Education.
September 20th - 22nd, 2018, Frank Eade and colleagues hosted the Sixth International Realistic Mathematics Education Conference (RME6) for the first time in the Caribbean (Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands). This three-day conference was supported by the Cayman Islands Ministry of Education. the Freudenthal Institute (FI), the Freudenthal Group at Utrecht University, and the University of Colorado - Boulder School of Education, Freudenthal Institute US (FIUS).
This conference showcased research and practical workshops focused on Realistic Mathematics Education (RME), a Dutch approach to the design of curriculum, assessment and instruction that is widely respected throughout the world as an exemplary approach to mathematics education. The Committee decided to host the conference in Grand Cayman as it realized that, as well as being a beautiful island to hold a conference, countries in the Caribbean and Central America are particularly interested in developing approaches to mathematics teaching which focus students on problem solving, gaining number sense and developing an inner ear for mathematical decision making. We believe that the experiences worldwide of the design and implementation of RME will be really significant for all educators working to influence mathematic teaching. We also recognized the need to investigate and share Realistic Mathematics Education as a truly international endeavor.
As noted by Frank Eade: The RME practices have been the foundation of improvement in mathematics in Cayman schools. Although Cayman schools have made direct use of some RME materials such as Mathematics in Context, perhaps the strongest influence is on the use of realistic problems as a way of generating the mathematics and as a way through the mathematics. We also strongly encourage students to articulate their thinking, thus encouraging the idea of students as sense makers. Models and manipulatives are used to encourage students to become strategic thinkers rather than followers of the teachers approach. We support teachers to understand the trajectory for students experiencing mathematical development and how this knowledge informs teacher decision making.
This approach to teaching takes time to develop and we support teachers on the journey to becoming more effective through Lesson Study, coaching, sample lessons and regular professional development. As well as working with teachers we also work with schools and system leaders in order to generate coherence within and across schools.
Who Attended?
The program was organized to address the interests and needs of mathematics educators, district, state or national school leaders, professional developers, researchers, coaches and teachers engaged in mathematics education, and professionals involved in training or supporting teachers. The content of the 3-day conference addressed elementary, high school and university level mathematics.
Conference Schedule and Program (PDF)
The RME6 conference focused on the use of realistic contexts, emergent models, classroom discussions and representations in ways that support mathematical thinking. Plenary and interactive workshops explored curriculum and assessment design, teacher learning and practice, and studies of student learning.
The program included keynote speakers and 90 and 60 minute breakout sessions offered by research faculty, designers of educational resources, coaches and teachers who have engaged in ways to support understanding of mathematics from elementary through undergraduate education.
The keynote speakers and their topics were:
Betina Zolkower is an associate professor of mathematics education at Brooklyn College, City University of New York, she is particularly interested in developing teachers practices and understanding of mathematics education. She has worked extensively with educators and teachers in Argentina focusing on the use of realistic contexts and models to make mathematics more meaningful for students. Her presentation will focus on developing teachers’ practices through the use of lesson study and RME approaches and will draw on her experience in both Argentina and the USA.
Dietmar Küchemann is a researcher in mathematics education. He has a long-held interest in examining students’ developing understanding of mathematical ideas and in designing materials informed by such knowledge that can be used by teachers to facilitate learning. During his keynote session he will look at some recent materials alongside an examination of the extensive research into late primary and early high school students’ increasing competence in algebra and multiplicative reasoning.
Maarten Dolk is a researcher at the Freudenthal Institute, Netherlands. He is now an independent math education consultant and CEO of New Perspectives Online. He is particularly interested in supporting teachers through curriculum development and online support. He has worked with educators in Asia as well as co-developing an on-demand, self-directed, multi-pathway system for professional learning, New Perspectives Online. Maarten’s presentation will focus on the principles of RME using his experiences in the USA, Europe, Asia, and South Africa to illustrate these.
Paul Drijvers is a full professor in mathematics education at the Freudenthal Institute, Netherlands. His research interests include the role of ICT in mathematics education, mathematical thinking, assessment, algebra education, and teachers' professional development. Paul also works as a professor in mathematics education at HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht. In his contribution, Paul will address key aspects of Realistic Mathematics Education that will be illustrated by examples from secondary mathematics education. From a more personal perspective, he will explain the talk’s title: the (he)art of Realistic Mathematics Education.
Looking for previous RME conference resources?
We will continue to migrate information from the www.fius.org website to the RME Conference Archive below.
We will continue to migrate information from the www.fius.org website to the RME Conference Archive below.
RME Conference Archive
RME 1 (2005): Madison, WI (only select resources are included here; no online proceedings exists for RME 1)
RME 2 (2009): Boulder, CO