Sense-making, Mathematics, and Digital Technology

Human sense-making is a useful construct through which to examine some of the processes intrinsic to the teaching and learning of mathematics. Unlike sense-making of conversation where meaning-making is prominent, sense-making in mathematics can be a complex process that may not make sense in terms of the natural world we know, and therefore, has an impact upon the choice of abstractions used in teaching. Mathematical curiosity proceeds with logic yet also works with insight in discovering new mathematical horizons. This paper focuses upon the broad scope of human sense-making in mathematics. It considers theoretical and pedagogical issues and raises questions with regards to the effective use of digital technology in teaching and proposes a research agenda.