RUME 28
2026
Alexandria, Virginia
Finding Joy in the Abstract
Page: 1432
The call to rehumanize mathematics can be answered with joy and play; yet many studies incorporating these concepts into mathematics limit themselves to early education settings. This study examines the potential for joy and play in a doctoral-level Abstract Algebra seminar, revealing characteristics that can foster a joyful secondary and post-secondary mathematics classroom. Using a mixed-methods concept-mapping analysis, researcher-participants identified preliminary themes of structured flexibility, safety, exploration, and community. By identifying these characteristics, the researcher-participants demonstrate that joy and play can enhance the teaching and learning of undergraduate and graduate mathematics.