Blog 2: Ethnomathematics in Australia
Ethnomathematics, as defined by Robert Hunter and Heather Whitely, as "mathematics used by a defined cultural group in the course of solving problems related to control of their environment" (Mathematics, prior knowledge and the Australian Aborigine, 1983).
To link Australian indigenous culture means making a link with the community as stated it is a full interpretation which deals with perceptions associated with evaluations, qualities, quantities, and the relationships between aspects of known realities, including both spiritual and physical aspect
After the western culture explored the role of mathematics in the indigenous society it became apparent that there was no counting or number systems per say rather and relationships to measure things like time, seasons, quantity, distance and environment.
As stated it has been the necessity for educators to discover ways of bringing to Indigenous students an understanding of Western mathematic together. To this end a co-operative approach between Indigenous and non-Indigenous educators has developed communicating and sharing ideas and concepts to teach out indigenous learners.
After reading this article I was amazed to find out that there was no counting system, it prompted me to find some additional information of how things are measured. Jason Dwyer produced a short video that depicts how the Walpiri people use mathematics and relationships and how this links to the people, place and everyday living. The video can be viewed by clicking here.
This reiterates to me the necessity for the teachers to check for understanding and check for prior knowledge before teaching a new concept. It also reminds me to never you can never make assumptions. I would not have known that the history of mathematics and indigenous people had no number system and this should be kept in mind as elders are student’s first teachers in their communities.
This also prompted my thinking into the history of mathematics and what that mean for the different cultures and for teachers.
References
Rudder, J. (n.d). Ethnomathematics in Australia. Retrieved from: http://aiatsis.gov.au/collections/collections-online/digitised-collections/ethnomathematics-australia/introduction
YouTube. Dyer, J. (2010). Walpiri counting. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asM39tfblMQ