Mathematics for a Better World: Promoting Social Values in Mathematics Education

Abstract

Social values are integral part of the norms that are emphasized into the educational systems, and their integration in the school curricula is essential for nurturing responsible citizens. The current paper discusses the outcomes of learning social values within mathematical content and problem solving. The research was conducted in an academic course that social values was one of its topics. The participants were 18 pre-service mathematics teachers who study in an Arab college in Israel. They underwent a training process in studying social values within mathematical content and subsequently applied it in schools. Employing qualitative methods, the research examined how to integrate social values in mathematics class, and how the pre-service mathematics teachers evaluate the importance of the subject. The findings indicated a notable improvement in the pre-service teachers' interest in the subject even it was a challenging experience. They realized that integrating social values into mathematical content is possible and applicable to various mathematics subjects. The findings may contribute to highlight the importance of integrating social values into mathematical content both at schools and at the academic education institutions.