Dangerous Ideas in Mathematics Education – I have met a few!

12:00 noon, Thursday 9 October 2025

Abstract

In June this year I retired from UTS as an Associate Professor in the Mathematics and Statistics Discipline, in the School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences in the Faculty of Science. Over 35 years I have had the good fortune to work with many innovative and supportive colleagues. I was appointed to teach first year mathematics as I had ten years of experience teaching high school students and three years of lecturing in teacher training courses. This talk will be a series of reflections on my experience – I have met several dangerous ideas and want to ask – “Dangerous for whom?”

Short bio:

Dr Mary Coupland is an Honorary Visiting Fellow at the University of Technology Sydney, where she was an academic staff member since 1990, retiring as an Associate Professor. She and her teaching teams have won teaching awards for contributions to student learning and in 2024 Dr Coupland was awarded the UTS Distinguished Service Award, in recognition of her commitment to championing mathematics education at UTS and in Australia. She is a life member of the Mathematical Association of NSW (MANSW) and a former president of both MANSW and the Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers (AAMT).