PROCEEDINGS OF THE 20TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON RESEARCH IN UNDERGRADUATE MATHEMATICS EDUCATION
2017
San Diego, California
Using women of color’s intuitive examples to reveal nuances about basis
Page: 469
Research and surveys continue to document the underrepresentation of women of color (WOC) in mathematics. Historically, their achievement in mathematics has been framed in a deficit way. Following the broader call for more research concerning WOC’s learning experiences in STEM, we interviewed eight WOC about their understanding of basis in linear algebra. We documented diverse ways that these women creatively explained the concept of basis using intuitive ideas from their everyday lives. These examples revealed important nuances and aspects of understanding of basis that are rarely discussed in instruction. These students’ ideas can also serve as potentially productive avenues to access the topic. Our results also challenge the existing broader narrative about the underachievement of women of color in mathematics.