Abstract

My recent research has centred around Ask NRICH , the web board conference section of the NRICH mathematics website (www.nrich.maths.org.uk) and the interactions between young people, as they pursue serious mathematical study away from the classroom. Previous studies analysing contributions to Computer Mediated Communication forum discussions have their origins in higher education, but the AskNRICHers as well as being of (secondary) school age, are very different to participants in earlier studies because: 1) participants belong voluntarily; 2) the conference board is primarily used only at home for ‘pleasure’ and is thus not part of any set course; 3) topics are only raised because they are important to the individual making the initial post; 4) there is no teacher/lecturer led element.

The exploration in searching out the daily ‘goings-on’ of these young people who, working on their own, at home and alone, meet like-minded peers only in a virtual space, involved using an interpretative analysis of upwards of six thousand messages. Findings show Ask NRICH as a place of harmony where people work within a collaborative, co-operative environment showing consideration and care (the four c’s) for others.

This presentation will report on the emergent realization, linked to Gee’s [2005] ideas of an Affinity Space, that the characterization of Ask NRICH should be located more within the space in which the participants interacted – what goes on and how it goes in seems more important and appropriate than defining a common membership.

Non-mathematicians will not be harmed by listening to this presentation.