MathEd Eagles participate in MATHTED'S first early career researcher's day

It was an empowering afternoon spent in the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Junior High School last 15 October 2025, by the Math Ed Eagles who participated in the first MATHTED Early Career Researchers’ Day (M-ECRD). The event served as a vibrant prelude to the 15th Biennial and International Conference of the Philippine Council of Mathematics Teachers Educators (MATHTED), Inc. with the theme “Mathematics Education for Learning Futures: Towards the Fulfillment of the Sustainable Development Goals.” Inspired by the Early Career Researcher’s Day of the 13th International Congress on Mathematical Education (ICME-13), M-ECRD was specially designed to equip young and emerging researchers in the field of mathematics education with additional knowledge and ideas for research. The target participants were senior undergraduate students, graduate students, and early career teachers from across the Philippines.

The session was opened by UST’s Chair of Mathematics and Physics Department, Dr Josephine Bernadette M Benjamin, who warmly welcomed participants to her institution. This was followed by the inspiring opening remarks from Dr Catherine P Vistro-Yu, President of MATHTED. With everyone energized, the program quickly moved to its lineup of insightful talks.

The first speaker, Dr Eva Thanheiser, Chair of the Mathematics Department at Portland State University, discussed “Reading the World with Numbers: Three Frames for Mathematics and Justice.” Before the beginning of the talk, participants took part in a quick interactive activity, which revealed that while most attendees came from Luzon, many also traveled from Visayas and Mindanao—a heartening reminder of MATHTED’s growing reach nationwide. Dr Thanheiser captivated the audience with real examples of how local Philippine datasets can enrich mathematics learning, especially when applied to meaningful, social justice-oriented contexts. Accompanying the talk was a video of Dr Thanheiser’s class shown as an example. Dr Errol Matthew Garcia of the Ateneo Mathematics Department facilitated the open forum that followed.

Next came Dr Arindam Bose from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, who shared “New Directions for Research and Practices—A Case of Geometry Education at the Secondary Stage Using Technological Affordances.” His presentation highlighted the importance of creating digital learning tools that honor mathematical ideas while remaining accessible to underserved communities. The audience was thrilled to see parts of the geometry learning platform that his team developed for students in India. An engaging open forum moderated by Mr Rhett Anthony Latonio, a PhD Math Ed student at Ateneo, capped the session.

The third talk was delivered by Dr Jinfa Cai, Vice President of International Commisison on Mathematical Instruction and a professor at the University of Delaware. He dove into the world of problem posing and scholarly publishing—topics close to the hearts of early researchers. As an editor for the world-renowned Journal for Research in Mathematics Education (JRME), Dr Cai offered invaluable advice on publishing in top journals, while also encouraging future scholars to be reflective and principled researchers. His session ended with a lively open forum led by Mr Jake Garnace, also a PhD Math Ed student at Ateneo.

Rounding out the presentations was MATHTED President Dr Catherine P. Vistro-Yu, who spoke on coherence and fidelity in mathematics education. Drawing from her extensive background in mathematics curriculum, she emphasized the importance of selecting learning resources that are mathematically accurate and developmentally appropriate. The open forum led by Mr Frankie Fran, another PhD Math Ed student at Ateneo, became particularly animated as participants discussed pressing issues such as the K-12 mathematics curriculum and the role of Mathematics in the Modern World in higher education.

The participants were particularly spirited in the open forum knowing that Dr Vistro-Yu was one of the principal experts in the development of both the K-12 and Mathematics in the Modern World curricula. Indeed, M-ECRD provided a platform for mathematics educators to communicate their concerns to experts and receive invaluable advice. To wrap up the event, the speakers and participants gathered for the awarding of certificates and a cheerful group photo—ending the day with smiles, inspiration, and renewed passion for research.

The 1st M-ECRD proved to be a resounding success, setting an exciting precedent for future gatherings that aim to empower the next generation of mathematics education experts. It was an informative and inspiring forum not only for young researchers but also for seasoned mathematics education in the field. Hearing the speakers talk about their respective research transported me back to the corners of our classroom at Ateneo.

The lessons we discussed that seemed to be alienating at first were informed by studies of mathematics education experts all over the world. It was an enlightening learning engagement that went beyond the classroom. It was also a humbling experience to be able to talk to some of the “giants” in the field who authored some of the impressive readings that inspired our chosen areas of study. 

The Math Ed Eagles who chose to join this enriching workshop came out of the sessions invigorated and eager to begin their own research projects.