What does it mean to know mathematics? How does meaning in mathematics education connect to common sense or to the meaning of mathematics itself? How are meanings constructed and communicated and what are the dilemmas related to these processes? There are many answers to these questions, some of which might appear to be contradictory. Thus understanding the complexity of meaning in mathematics education is a matter of huge importance. There are twin directions in which discussions have developed-theoretical and practical-and this book seeks to move the debate forward along both dimensions while seeking to relate them where appropriate. A discussion of meaning can start from a theoretical examination of mathematics and how mathematicians over time have made sense of their work. However, from a more practical perspective, anybody involved in teaching mathematics is faced with the need to orchestrate the myriad of meanings derived from multiple sources that students develop of mathematical knowledge.

"What does it mean to know mathematics? How does meaning in mathematics education connect to common sense or to the meaning of mathematics itself? How are meanings constructed and communicated and what are the dilemmas related to these processes? There are many answers to these questions, some of which might appear to be contradictory. Thus understanding the complexity of meaning in mathematics education is a matter of huge importance. There are twin directions in which discussions have developed - theoretical and practical - and this book seeks to move the debate forward along both dimensions while seeking to relate them where appropriate. A discussion of meaning can start from a theoretical examination of mathematics and how mathematicians over time have made sense of their work. However, from a more practical perspective, anybody involved in teaching mathematics is faced with the need to orchestrate the myriad of meanings derived from multiple sources that students develop of mathematical knowledge. TOC:Preface.- Introduction.- Meanings of Meaning of Mathematics.- "Meaning" and School Mathematics.- The Meaning of Conics: Historical and Didactical Dimensions.- Reconstruction of Meaning as a Didactical Task: The Concept of Function as an Example.- Meaning in Mathematics Education.- Collective Meaning and Common Sense.- Mathematics Education and Common Sense.- Communication and Construction of Meaning.- Making Mathematics and Sharing Mathematics: Two Paths to Co-Constructing Meaning?- The Hidden Role of Diagrams in Pupils' Construction of Meaning in Geometry.- What's a Best Fit? Construction of Meaning in a Linear Algebra Session.- Discoursing Mathematics Away.- Meaning and Mathematics."

Meanings of Meaning of Mathematics.- "Meaning" and School Mathematics.- The Meaning of Conics: Historical and Didactical Dimensions.- Reconstruction of Meaning as a Didactical Task: The Concept of Function as an Example.- Meaning in Mathematics Education.- Collective Meaning and Common Sense.- Mathematics Education and Common Sense.- Communication and Construction of Meaning.- Making Mathematics and Sharing Mathematics: Two Paths to Co-Constructing Meaning?.- The Hidden Role of Diagrams in Students' Construction of Meaning in Geometry.- What's a Best Fit? Construction of Meaning in a Linear Algebra Session.- Discoursing Mathematics Away.- Meaning and Mathematics.