Math Ed Seminar Series @ Brock
Season 2017- 2018
Revisiting the Role of Common Sense in
Mathematical Word Problem Solving
Dr. Abolfazl Rafiepour
Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman (Iran)
Visiting Professor at Department of Mathematics and Statistics (Brock University)
29 January @ 10:00 in TA403
Dr. Abolfazl Rafiepour is an associate professor of mathematics education, in faculty of
mathematics and computer, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Iran. He is a visiting scholar
professor at Brock University. His special research interest is about modelling and application in
domain of mathematics education. He taught several mathematics and mathematics education
courses at the undergraduate and graduate level and has supervised more than 20 master students
and one PhD student in the domain of mathematics education. He published more than 20 research
papers. He also presents several papers in national and international conferences.
Abstract: In this lecture, the role of mathematical word problem will be recognized in
mathematics education and school mathematics textbooks. Then relation between mathematical
word problem and modelling activities will be explained. Afterward “suspending of common
sense in solving mathematical word problem” as a strange phenomenon will be described through
several mathematical word problems as example. Finally, results of several research studies in this
topic (which focused in different aspect such as students, teachers, math textbook) from different
countries will be presented. Through these results, roots of “suspending common sense in solving
mathematical word problem” will be identified in mathematics textbooks, mathematics teacher
education and social norm of mathematics classrooms.
All undergraduate(including teacher candidates) students, graduate students , and faculty, from Department of Mathematics and Statistics and the Faculty of Education are welcome!
For information, contact: Chantal Buteau: cbuteau@brocku.ca or Joyce Mgombelo: Joyce.Mgombelo@brocku.ca
