It is often asserted that to facilitate student engagement, encourage participation and create optimal learning environments, the classroom should be a safe space. In this paper, we explore the idea that 'safety' is at odds with the very nature of academic enquiry. Using data from a qualitative study with staff at a UK University, we illustrate…

In deciding whether to choose a real event from which to develop children's mathematical understanding, it is crucial to have a clear appreciation of what mathematics pupils need to learn. In this article, the author looks at the issue of "context"--the positives, and negatives for the learner. He describes a project in which the context…