Conceptualisation of the Role of Competencies, Knowing and Knowledge in Mathematics Education Research

Abstract

This paper surveys the notions, conceptualisations and roles of mathematical competencies and their relatives in research, development and practice from an international perspective. After outlining the questions giving rise to this survey, the paper first takes a brief look at the genesis of competency-oriented ideas as a prelude to identifying and analysing recent trends. The relationships between different notions and terms concerning competencies and their relatives are discussed, and their roles in the 2015 PISA framework are presented. Two kinds of research, on and by means of mathematical competencies, are surveyed. The impact of competency-oriented notions and ideas on curriculum frameworks and documents in a number of countries is being charted, before challenges to the implementation of such notions in actual teaching practice are identified. Finally the paper takes stock of the international state-of-the-art of competencies and similar notions, with a focus on the need for further research.