Jenny Fred. Foto: Privat.

Jenny Fred is using the idea of wicked problems (Rittel & Webber,1973) as a facilitator in imagining algebraic problem situations that go beyond established narratives of early algebra (for pupils in grade F-3) where the socio-ecological becomes more than a context.

Initially, Jenny conducted a screening of two major research reviews (Cai & Knuth, 2011; Kieran, 2018) within the framework of early algebra. The results of this screening showed a dominance of the logical and psychological interpretation of 'powerful algebraic ideas' as opposed to the cultural and sociological interpretation (Fred et al., 2022). The sociological interpretation of powerful algebraic ideas conceives of algebra as a resource or tool for concrete critical thinking and action. This has been a central dimension in the exploration of problem situations for the socio-ecological. 

In the empirical set up, an inquiry group (teachers, student teachers, teacher educators and researchers) have worked on the idea of a new type of problem situations, Algebraic Wicked Problems, which would invite pupils to connect algebraic thinking and sustainability issues. In this exploration, Critical Mathematics Education (Skovsmose, 1994) and Learning Activities (Davydov, 2008) served as theoretical and didactic frameworks. Furthermore, Rittel and Webber's (1973) idea of wicked problem was used as a rhetorical, creative, and critical tool.

The following conference papers are puplicated or accepted for publication:

Fred, J., Valero, P., & Van Steenbrugge, H. (2022). Powerful algebraic ideas: Early algebraic thinking and active citizenship. In J. Hodgen, E. Geraniou, G. Bolondi, & F. Ferretti (Eds.) Proceedings of the Twelfth Congress of the European Society for Research in Mathematics Education (CERME12). (pp. 489–496). Free University of Bozen-Bolzano and ERME.

Fred, J., Valero, P., & Van Steenbrugge, H. (2023). Algebraic wicked problems: bridging the gap between early school algebra and so-cially relevant issues? Thirteen Congress of the European Society for Research in Mathematics Education (CERME13), July 2023, Budapest, Hungary. 

Fred, J., Valero, P., & Van Steenbrugge, H. (2023). Tracing connections in working toward a critical zone of making algebraic wicked problems. Commission for the Study and Improvement of Mathematics Teaching (CIEAEM74), Aug 2023, Malmö, Sweden.

Fred, J., Van Steenbrugge, H. & Valero, P. (2024). Connecting early algebra and sustainability through dilemmas: an exploration of Al-gebraic Wicked Problems. (ICME)

If you would like to read the manuscript before the seminar, please e-mail Jenny Fred: jenny.fred@su.se

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