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The Widening Gap - A Swedish Perspective

Brandell, Gerd LU ; Hemmi, Kirsti and Thunberg, Hans (2008) In Mathematics Education Research Journal 20(2). p.38-56
Abstract
Transition problems from secondary to tertiary level in mathematics have been a recurrent issue in Sweden. This paper summarises the development during the last decades. Results from two recent research studies that illuminate the transition problem are presented. The first one, based on empirical data from a major Swedish technical university, characterises the widening gap, in content and in approach, between secondary school and first year university courses. The second study deals with students’ encounters with mathematical proof and is based on a large investigation at another main Swedish university. We discuss the influence on the current transition problems of school reforms and of the great expansion of higher education in Sweden... (More)
Transition problems from secondary to tertiary level in mathematics have been a recurrent issue in Sweden. This paper summarises the development during the last decades. Results from two recent research studies that illuminate the transition problem are presented. The first one, based on empirical data from a major Swedish technical university, characterises the widening gap, in content and in approach, between secondary school and first year university courses. The second study deals with students’ encounters with mathematical proof and is based on a large investigation at another main Swedish university. We discuss the influence on the current transition problems of school reforms and of the great expansion of higher education in Sweden during the last 10 – 15 years in view of the results from the research studies. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
transition, Mathematics, education, tertiary, secondary
in
Mathematics Education Research Journal
volume
20
issue
2
pages
38 - 56
publisher
MERGA
external identifiers
  • scopus:70349651217
ISSN
1033-2170
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
6f8d53ef-224b-4557-b68e-defb5886aebd (old id 1275183)
alternative location
http://www.merga.net.au/documents/MERJ_20_2_Brandell.pdf
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 14:06:14
date last changed
2022-02-04 19:08:12
@article{6f8d53ef-224b-4557-b68e-defb5886aebd,
  abstract     = {{Transition problems from secondary to tertiary level in mathematics have been a recurrent issue in Sweden. This paper summarises the development during the last decades. Results from two recent research studies that illuminate the transition problem are presented. The first one, based on empirical data from a major Swedish technical university, characterises the widening gap, in content and in approach, between secondary school and first year university courses. The second study deals with students’ encounters with mathematical proof and is based on a large investigation at another main Swedish university. We discuss the influence on the current transition problems of school reforms and of the great expansion of higher education in Sweden during the last 10 – 15 years in view of the results from the research studies.}},
  author       = {{Brandell, Gerd and Hemmi, Kirsti and Thunberg, Hans}},
  issn         = {{1033-2170}},
  keywords     = {{transition; Mathematics; education; tertiary; secondary}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{38--56}},
  publisher    = {{MERGA}},
  series       = {{Mathematics Education Research Journal}},
  title        = {{The Widening Gap - A Swedish Perspective}},
  url          = {{http://www.merga.net.au/documents/MERJ_20_2_Brandell.pdf}},
  volume       = {{20}},
  year         = {{2008}},
}