Title: Front and back of mathematics: Allowing students to make math their own
Abstract: The concept of front and back of math (introduced by Hersh in 1991) is a useful tool in understanding the importance of student agency in the learning process, as well as the limitations of teaching with a rigid view of how students learn and how they should be learning, especially in the context of inclusion in math education. I will share stories of a few experiences I have personally had, in teaching as well as in learning math, and analyze them through this lens. An open discussion among grad students, during which I hope to learn about practical ways in which you aim to make math more accessible, will conclude the talk.
