Future Issues and Directions in International Mathematics Education Research

In this final chapter, we consider some of the many research issues that need attention in the advancement of our discipline. Specifically, we have identified the following questions as worthy of consideration: 1. What role can research play in illuminating the multidisciplinary debates on the powerful mathematical ideas required for the 21st century? 2. How can research support more equitable curriculum and learning access to powerful mathematical ideas? 3. How can research support the creation of learning environments that give learners better and more equitable access to powerful mathematical ideas? 4. How can research contribute to the kind of teacher education and teacher development programs that will be needed to facilitate student access to powerful mathematical ideas? 2 5. How can we assess the extent to which students have gained access to powerful mathematical ideas, and their abilities to make effective use of these ideas? How can research inform such assessment? 6. How do we assess and improve research methodologies in mathematics education?