Radical Constructivism in Action: Building on the Pioneering Work of Ernst von Glasersfeld (Studies in Mathematics Education Series)

Over the last twenty-five years Ernst von Glasersfeld has had a tremendous impact on mathematics and science education through his fundamental insights into the nature of knowledge and knowing. Radical Constructivism in Action is a new volume of papers honouring his work by building on his model of knowing. The contributions by leading researchers present constructivism in action, tying the authors' actions regarding practical problems of mathematics and science education, philosophy, and sociology to their philosophical constraints, giving meaning to constructivism operationally. The book begins with a retrospective analogy between radical constructivism's emergence and changes in what is thought of as "certain" scientific knowledge. It aims to increase understanding of constructivism and Glasersfeld's achievement, and is vibrant evidence of the continued vitality of research in the constructivism tradition. Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Contents......Page 5 List of Figures......Page 8 Series Editor's Preface......Page 10 Preamble Heinz von Foerster......Page 12 Knowledge, Language, and Communication......Page 18 Problems of Constructivism......Page 20 The Topic of Entity as it Relates to Ernst von Glasersfeld's Constructivism......Page 27 Ernst von Glasersfeld's Philosophy of Language: Roots, Concepts, Perspectives......Page 40 Construction of the Self, Ethics, and Paideia......Page 52 Constructivism and Paideia......Page 54 Radical Constructivism: Notes on Viability, Ethics and Other Educational Issues......Page 72 Constraints, Paideia and Occasioning: Can Mathematics Teaching be Part of Paideia?......Page 86 Epistemological Origins of Ethics......Page 97 Perspectives on Issues Concerning the Self, Paideia, Constraints and Viability, and Ethics......Page 108 Practice of Mathematics Education......Page 120 Students' Constructions: A Necessity for Formalizations in Geometry......Page 122 Professional Development in Recovery Education......Page 151 Constructivism in Social Context......Page 169 Perspectives on Practice in Mathematics Education......Page 196 Teacher Education in Mathematics and Science......Page 210 Science Teacher Preparation: An Attempt at Breaking the Re-Production Cycle of the Traditional Model of Teaching......Page 212 Constructivism, Mathematics Teacher Education, and Research in Mathematics Teacher Development......Page 230 Themes and Issues in Mathematics Teacher Education......Page 248 Becoming a Teacher-Researcher in a Constructivist Teaching Experiment......Page 265 Perspectives on Constructivism in Teacher Education......Page 294 Reflections and Directions......Page 306 Radical Constructivism: Reflections and Directions......Page 308 Notes on Contributors......Page 333 Index......Page 337 Edited By Leslie P. Steffe And Patrick W. Thompson. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.