Ksenija Simic-Muller, Pacific Lutheran University
Teaching mathematics for social justice: the promise and practice  
Teaching mathematics for social justice centers mathematics as a tool for understanding the sociopolitical forces that shape the world around us. It addresses complex and sometimes controversial real-world issues (especially those related to economic and racial justice) through open-ended investigations. This approach to teaching is sometimes criticized as not being rigorous enough; and some also believe that mathematics is neutral and should not deal with controversial issues. In this talk, I will argue that addressing social justice issues in mathematics courses is timely and important; and that it can be rigorous and result in significant learning both of mathematics and the issues investigated. I will share examples of activities, assignments, and projects I have developed and used, and give some recommendations for beginning and sustaining this work.