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Letter from the Editor

Journal of the ACMS 2006 Issue

A Christian Constructivist? The Impact of Worldview on Learning Theories and
the Mathematics Education Research Community

Jeffrey Barrett, Illinois State University
Dave Klanderman, Trinity Christian College

Abstract: During our nearly two decades within the mathematics education research
community, including collaborative research spanning the past seven years, we have
observed an ongoing struggle to justify and apply apparently inconsistent theories of
learning mathematics. Many researchers avoid reference to an underlying worldview or
belief system in this debate. However, following the lead of Marsden (1997), we strive to articulate a Christian worldview and apply it in the development of an overall learning
theory in mathematics education. This paper describes examples of the variety of
theories and their underlying worldviews that are present in mathematics education, and
provides a more detailed analysis of one researcher’s struggle to resolve tensions between competing theories without discussing a belief system. It delineates some elements of a Christian worldview and concludes with how this approach can either eliminate or embrace these apparent tensions between competing theories.

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