Gaps and trends in mathematics education research in East Africa: reflections of an emerging scholar
Date
2019-08
Authors
Otieno, Herine
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Strathmore University
Abstract
In this presentation I reflect on my considerations of the key gaps and trends in
mathematics education research in East Africa. The reflections are based on exploration
of mathematics education literature and interactions with mathematics education
researchers from Europe in the four (2014-2018) years of my PhD study. The study, which
was an ethnographic intervention study sought to establish the relationship between selfregulated
learning and student’s relationship with mathematics. Drawing from the
aforementioned experiences and broad findings from my study, I reflect on the
implications of the paucity of research on: mathematics teaching and learning in higher
institutions of learning; minimal attention to pertinent areas of research such as history of
mathematics; and impact of Eurocentrism on teaching and learning of mathematics in
East Africa. Some reflections on the implications of the limited use of qualitative research
methods and collaborations of mathematics education researchers within and across
institutions in the region are also shared.
Description
Paper presented at the 5th Strathmore International Mathematics Conference (SIMC 2019), 12 - 16 August 2019, Strathmore University, Nairobi, Kenya
Keywords
Eurocentrism, Gaps and trends, Higher education research., Qualitative research