Notes from a session entitled: Learning a mathematical topic: what does it mean and how can it be facilitated?

Mathematicians and mathematics educators have an uneasy relationship. To provide a forum at which both mathematics researchers teaching undergraduate students, and education researchers could share a platform and discuss issues of mutual concern, the MSOR Network has organized two workshops at the University of Warwick. The first took place on 19 March 2007, with the title “Mathematicians and Educationalists: can we collaborate?” This was a lively meeting, at which it was agreed we should arrange a follow-up meeting. This took place on 19th March 2008 with the title Mathematicians and Educationalists: how can we collaborate?” The speakers: Peter Saunders, David Tall, Alice Rogers, Alexandre Borovik and John Mason again provided us with a very interesting day of contrasting views and concerns. The article which follows is by Prof. John Mason, and expands on the talk which he gave at this meeting…