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The need for problem solving as global policyspeak: The case of Sweden
Malmö högskola, Faculty of Education and Society (LS), Department of Nature, Environment and Society (NMS).
2014 (English)Manuscript (preprint) (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

In this article, Bernstein’s vertical and horizontal discourses are used to identify tensions that arise from recontextualising global policyspeak about problem solving into the mathematics curriculum for upper secondary schools in Sweden. The new curriculum in Sweden, launched in 2011, is used as an exemplar of a wider global trend within mathematics education which emphasises competences and especially problem-solving competence. An interdiscursive analysis of the curriculum is carried out together with an analysis of the national tests where problem-solving tasks are categorised as pure or applied tasks originating from the vertical and horizontal discourses, respectively. It is argued that an equal distribution of and access to the vertical discourse is crucial for the goals of schooling to be achieved, but the present curriculum is likely to contribute to students from low socioeconomic background having fewer opportunities to gain entry into this discourse. Therefore, there is a risk that class difference and social inequality are reinforced, and reproduced via mathematics education, despite proclamations of contrary intentions. 

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2014.
National Category
Educational Sciences
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:mau:diva-66287OAI: oai:DiVA.org:mau-66287DiVA, id: diva2:1843310
Available from: 2024-03-08 Created: 2024-03-08 Last updated: 2024-03-08Bibliographically approved
In thesis
1. The problem-solving citizen
Open this publication in new window or tab >>The problem-solving citizen
2014 (English)Licentiate thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

The present thesis is made up by three articles and in all of these the mathematics curriculum for upper secondary school in Sweden is analysed. The main focus is the citizen and citizenship and the point of departure is problem solving as a competence. Besides an investigation of the connection between citizenship and the curricu- lum or the role the citizen have in the curriculum, questions about what tensions appear when problem solving is recontextualised in- to the curriculum are posed. Following an international trend in (mathematics) education, the mathematics curriculum in Sweden stresses demands made on the students and citizens instead of rights that the students or citizens have. Demands that everyone must become problem-solving citizens. By the use of Bernstein’s theories about the pedagogic device and his division of different knowledge forms into a vertical and a horizontal discourse, I inves- tigate possible effects of these demands. Despite intentions that all should be included, I show that there is a risk for exclusion instead. Bernstein suggested that school reproduces social inequity. In this thesis I discuss how this is done in the curriculum. My conclusion points at a risk of segregation and exclusion of lower socio- economic groups from influence, power and control. Furthermore, the reproduction of social inequity is build more solidly into the system with the new curriculum as although it is unclear whether the purpose of the changes to the curriculum was really to divide groups and exclude some from power.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Malmö högskola, Lärande och samhälle, 2014. p. 106
Series
Malmö Studies in Educational Sciences: Licentiate Dissertation Series, ISSN 1653-6037 ; 33
Keywords
Mathematics education, Problem solving, Equity, Upper secondary school, Curriculum
National Category
Social Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:mau:diva-7646 (URN)17711 (Local ID)9789171045515 (ISBN)9789171045522 (ISBN)17711 (Archive number)17711 (OAI)
Available from: 2020-02-28 Created: 2020-02-28 Last updated: 2024-03-08Bibliographically approved

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Dahl, Jonas

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CiteExportLink to record
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Citation style
  • apa
  • ieee
  • modern-language-association-8th-edition
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  • Other style
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  • de-DE
  • en-GB
  • en-US
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  • Other locale
More languages
Output format
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  • text
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