2021 Conference Theme

The 2021 Conference Theme is “Productive Struggle: Persevering Through Challenges“

2020 brought us a global pandemic and with it, many challenges for mathematics education research.  Public schools faced a sudden and prolonged transition to distance education, while higher education experienced a budget crisis as well as the loss of in-person classes and traditional field experiences for teacher education. Many researchers and their communities have encountered unforeseen difficulties including personal or family illness, employment loss, and a child-care crunch, all of which fell disproportionately onto already-vulnerable populations. Meanwhile, demonstrations for racial justice highlighted the insidious effects of racism throughout our society. 

Our 2021 conference theme, “Productive Struggle: Persevering Through Challenges,” attempts to re-frame these challenges through the lens of productive struggle. We aim to embrace the power of appropriate struggle as an opportunity for learning and growth. How can mathematics education researchers use this time of crisis as an opportunity for transformation?  What new possibilities for mathematics learning and teaching were revealed through the unprecedented changes of 2020? And, how can our existing research endeavors persevere through the current situation to reach new insights about mathematics teaching and learning?

We also recognize that not all struggle is productive. When institutions and systems fail to support students, teachers, and researchers from historically marginalized communities, they create injustices that cannot simply be overcome by individual perseverance.  A focus on equity demands that we distinguish between productive struggle and struggle caused by racism, sexism, and other biases, while working to critique and dismantle unjust structures and systems.

We invite papers about every kind of struggle – in student learning, in teaching, in pre-service and in-service teacher education – and how it can both support and inhibit learning.  The organizing committee acknowledges the unique challenges that this past year has brought to primary caregivers and BIPOC scholars at all levels, and particularly invites papers which recognize and reflect on the processes and responsibilities of education during challenging times. 

We hope our theme helps to focus presentation proposals, but we encourage all proposals that further a deeper understanding of teaching and learning mathematics even if they do not directly address the theme. More information is available at http://2021.pmena.org or by contacting 2021PMENA@gmail.com.

Further, we understand that attending the 2021 PME-NA Conference in person may present particular challenges to some this year.  Although we hope that as many researchers as possible will be able to join us in person in the beautiful, historic, and vibrant city of Philadelphia, we also recognize that many institutions (or personal situations) may prohibit travel in the 2021-2022 academic year.  Therefore, we are planning a hybrid conference with both virtual and in-person options for attendance. 

We hope you will consider submitting a proposal and joining us in Philadelphia!

Sincerely,

The Local Organizing Committee