Critical and Social Justice Concerns in Mathematics Education
Feminist Science Studies
Mathematics Education Research and Resource Development
Teaching Higher Mathematics
Critical and Social Justice Concerns in Mathematics Education, Feminist Science Studies, Mathematics Education Research and Resource Development, Teaching Higher Mathematics
February to August 2019, Visiting Fellow | Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, TIFR, Mumbai
2012-2018, Associate Professor | Azim Premji School of education- Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Hyderabad
2005-2012, Fellow in the Curriculum Research and Material Development Unit | Eklavya Foundation, Bhopal
2003-2005, Faculty Member | ICFAI, Bangalore
May to October 2002, Visiting Fellow | National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore
2000-2002, Faculty Member | Hyderabad Presidency College, Hyderabadli>
Research Interests
Teacher Professional Development in Mathematics is clearly the most important area to focus on in order to meet the challenge of quality mathematics education in India. Teachers have very little scope to continue to improve their knowledge and also benefit from current research in mathematics education. Moreover, teaching and learning of mathematics in a complex socio-cultural and economic context calls for more than having sound subject knowledge. Action Research Projects aimed at working with teachers in real classrooms to understand the challenges and possibilities teachers encounter would contribute to mathematics education in India in very important ways.
Exploring ethnomathematical knowledge of the communities of weavers in the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana region: Ethnomathematics is an active area of research in mathematics education that seeks to understand mathematical knowledge forms brought into exitance by different communities and incorporate them as part of school curriculum. India has several artisanal communities still engaged in arts and crafts that call for knowledge of mathematics. Andhra Pradesh has several different communities of weavers engaged in specific forms of weaving. An attempt will be made to understand some of mathematical knowledge evolved by a couple of weaving communities in the context of their work.
Equity and excellence in Mathematics Education: It is fairly well accepted that excellence in mathematics education is still a distant dream for several marginalized groups. However, the mechanisms by which exclusion happens is determined by locally specific factors. Gender difference in performance in mathematics is a well-studied area, even though there is very little work from India; several socio-cultural, regional and economic factors complexify the gender dimension in India making it more difficult to study. However, it may be possible to begin by looking at the under representation of girls in Olympiad exams. Similarly, socio-economic factors play a significant role in succeeding in school mathematics. An attempt to select a small number of students from social welfare residential schools and provide them longitudinal support to excel in mathematics would inform us of the potentials and the challenges involved in realizing such an aspiration.
Awards & Fellowships
2002 – Visiting Fellow at National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore.
1998-99 - Post Doctoral Fellowship – Harish Chandra Research Institute, Allahabad
1997-98– CSIR Research Associate – CSIR (at the Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata)
1997- Visitor to International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy for a period of 3 months
1990-1995- CSIR JRF&SRF- CSIR
1978- National Merit Certificate in the Secondary School Leaving Examination
Memberships
Member, Scientific Council and Advisory Board, Pesquisa e Ensino, (A multilingual Journal of Education)
Member, International Committee, Mathematics Education and Society
Member, Mathematics Teachers Association of India
Member, Indian Association of Women’s Studies
Chair, 10th International Mathematics Education and Society Conference, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad
Chair, Topic Study Group on Equity in Mathematics Education, 14th International Congress of Mathematics Education
Member, Topic Study Group on Equity in Mathematics Education, 13th International Congress of Mathematics Education
