Situated in the heart of Illinois farm country, Midwest City* provided the backdrop and the baseline for a qualitative research project considering the grand tour question, “What are the perceptions of the people of the Midwest concerning math and math education?’ The target population consisted of the people located and living in the community and school district of Midwest City, Illinois.
Using the qualitative research method known as folknography, Dr. David Lucas led a research team of undergraduate students from Ohio University to Midwest City, Illinois to perform the necessary field research. Joined by University of Tennessee, Knoxville doctoral student Jamie Fugitt, the research team set up a base of operations, mapped out the research region into target zones, and divided the team members into field-work teams. The research team, after organizing the research field project, began the work.
In the introduction of a paper concerning math and math education, one math educator observed, “The need to popularize mathematics and to change the public perception of our subject seems axiomatic as there is no doubt that many people regard mathematics unfavorably and this has an impact on our work in mathematics education.” (Begg, 2004).
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The Perception of Math and Math Education in the Rural Midwest
