The International Commission on Mathematical Instruction
ICMI 
Bulletin No. 47 
December 1999


 

The International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education  (PME)

A Brief Introduction

The International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education, abbreviated to PME, is a study group affiliated to ICMI - the International Commission on Mathematics Instruction - since 1976, when it was established at ICME-3 in Karlsruhe.  The group meets annually.
The major goals of the group are:

Membership is open to those involved in active research consistent with the aims of PME, or professionally interested in the results of such research.  Membership is on an annual basis and depends on payment of the membership fees for the current year (January to December). PME has about 650 members from some 50 countries all over the world.

The main activity of PME is its yearly conference of 4 or 5 days, during which members have the opportunity to communicate personally with each other about their special and general interests.  There are plenary lectures, research paper presentations, working groups, poster sessions and many other activities.  Every year the conference is held in a different country.  Information about the availability of the Proceedings of the annual PME Conferences can be found on the website

http://igpme.tripod.com/procee.html

A PME Newsletter is issued twice a year.  Copies of PME NEWS can be obtained from a Regional Contact or from the Executive Secretary Dr Joop van Dormolen, or can also be accessed on the web - for instance, the November 1999 issue of PME NEWS is located at

http://igpme.tripod.com/nov99.html

PME is affiliated with ICMI and as such presents itself during the International Congresses on Mathematical Education (ICMEs) in which its aims and activities can be discussed with non-members.  From time to time PME issues a special scientific publication, for example the result of research done by one of the Project Groups.  A selection of PME publications will be discussed and showcased during the special sessions assigned to PME at the forthcoming ICME-9 conference in Japan.