Instruction
You are asked to locate someone who uses mathematics that is not in an "in school" situation. Mailpersons, nurses, carpet layers, seamstresses, and children playing games are all examples of appropriate subjects. Using Bishop's Six Aspects (see Blackboard Week 2), design an interview to see if you can learn how this person thinks about and uses mathematics in their profession.
Bishop’s Six Universal Mathematical Activities/Aspects
1.Counting - determining quantities, ordering objects, distinguishing one from another in concrete or abstract terms. May also apply to frequency, events or episodes
2.Measuring - using formal and informal measures to determine quantities or conceptual mathematical notions that cannot be counted
3.Locating - determining place and position in spatial terms either in relation to oneself, other individuals or specified objects
4.Designing & Building - employing higher order thinking skills to conceptualize a plan or strategy which is abstract and symbolic and record it by various means
5.Playing - the capacities to recreate or imitate social and cultural actions that have content which requires mathematical exploration. These can be imaginative, supported with concrete materials and conducted within social interaction with others. May be non-goal orientated
6.Explaining - using the symbolic, shared understandings of language to verbally explain, justify, evaluate and communicate the facts, examine the logic or conceptual understandings of mathematical ideas, experiences, events, relationships and questions