3337

Mdutshekelwa Ndlovu

philosophy of mathematics education

2013

27

constructivism , construction and reconstruction , radical/cognitive constructivism , social/realist constructivism , epistemological relativism , theoretical framework

The purpose of this paper is to critically analyse and discuss the views of constructivism, on the teaching and learning of mathematics. I provide a background to the learning of mathematics as constructing and reconstructing knowledge in the form of new conceptual networks; the nature, role and possibilities of constructivism as a learning theoretical framework in Mathematics Education. I look at the major criticisms and conclude that it passes the test of a learning theoretical framework but there is still a gap between theory and mathematics classroom practice.