This course will be a basic introduction to research in (especially mathematics) education aimed at graduate students and faculty (mainly geared towards mathematicians). What makes an educational research project compelling?  What are possible design models and pitfalls?  How can we judge the rigor and reliability of studies done by others?  What are the current prevailing standards?  Research mathematicians, in general, lack familiarity with these issues, but they need to understand them in order to become critical readers of educational literature and engage in their own research projects.

Activities will include: (1) reading a sampling of book chapters and research articles; (2) discussing and critiquing these articles; (3) surveying the different kinds of research available and sorting the relevant journals into various categories; (4) designing a research study that focuses on a particular question of interest.

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