Epilogue: On the Importance of Looking Back

Abstract

Our objective is to publish a book that lays out the theoretical constructs and research methodologies within mathematics education that have been developed by Paul Cobb and explains the process of their development. We propose to do so by including papers in which Cobb introduced new theoretical perspectives and methodologies into the literature, each preceded by a substantive accompanying introductory paper that explains the motivation/rationale for developing the new perspectives and/or methodologies and the processes through which they were developed, and Cobb's own retrospective comments. Foreword; Cobbs, and the Fields, Learning Trajectory; The Scientific Quality of Cobbs Research; References; Acknowledgments; Contents; Contributors; About Paul Cobb; About the Contributors; 1 Introduction; References; Part I Radical Constructivism; 2 Introduction; 3 The Constructivist Researcher as Teacher and Model Builder; Part II Social Constructivism; 4 Introduction; 5 Young Childrens Emotional Acts While Engaged in Mathematical Problem Solving; Part III Symbolizing and Instructional Design Developing Instructional Sequences to Support Students Mathematical Learning; 6 Introduction.