Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2025 - EDUC 941 G001

Mathematical Learning and Thinking: Historical, Philosophical, and Psychological Dimensions (5)

Class Number: 4025

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 3 – Dec 2, 2025: Mon, 4:30–9:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Instructor:

    Sean Chorney
    sean_chorney@sfu.ca
    778-318-2462
    Office: EDB 8673
    Office Hours: Contact me

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Focuses on motivations and rationales guiding seminal thinkers in the historical development of mathematical thinking, mathematical cognition and learning, with an eye toward foundational issues in contemporary educational research, theory and practice.

COURSE DETAILS:

This course explores the development of mathematical thinking and learning. We will engage in some mathematics that was practiced at different times through history. We will also engage in critical explorations of how and why some of the mathematical ideas developed and became significant. Questions we explore include: what is mathematics, what are the underlying factors that led to changes in mathematical thinking and how did that influence mathematical learning, what sorts of mathematical thinking were prehistoric people engaging in, how did that thinking change in Babylon, Egypt, Greece, Renaissance, 19th century? Much of our class time will be spent discussing and interrogating the readings and how it is relevant to our own thinking about mathematics and mathematics education.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

EDUC 941-5 Mathematical Learning and Thinking: Historical, Philosophical, and Psychological Dimensions offers course participants opportunities to explore more deeply the scope and depth of mathematics education scholarship, shaping their own philosophies and understanding of what the teaching of mathematics can involve.

 

Grading

  • Weekly response to the readings 30%
  • Research project 50%
  • Updates on research project 20%

NOTES:

All assignments are to be submitted to sean_chorney@sfu.ca, please have your first name and a descriptor of the assignment in the title of the document. For example, Firstname_response1.docx.

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Required Readings for EDUC 941 will include a combination of journal articles and book chapters that have been selected to support the aims of this course. These readings can be downloaded each week from Canvas.


REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Graduate Studies Notes:

Important dates and deadlines for graduate students are found here: http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/current/important_dates/guidelines.html. The deadline to drop a course with a 100% refund is the end of week 2. The deadline to drop with no notation on your transcript is the end of week 3.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.