Oblique Approaches to Change: Land and Place as Architectures of Connection
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsOblique Approaches to Change: Land and Place as Architectures of Connection
The theme of the paper is interesting. The work is original regarding its theme.
The Grounded in Place effort is a placed-based curriculum alongside a Professional Development (PD) and community of practice, which centers the heart’s intelligence by design.
Grounded leans on land, place and heritage to offer a mathematical experience that enables cultivating reciprocal relationships between and across the mathematics, the land, and humans engaged (e.g., students and educators).
This paper proposes the oblique perspective as an emergent, underutilized resource for visioning change in academic spaces, including, but not limited to STEMM teaching and learning.
The author suggests that if we place land and “place” (the physical and cultural environment people are in) at the center of mathematics education, we can indirectly—but meaningfully—improve how students and teachers experience STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine) learning communities.
The author identifies four dimensions—curricula, achievement, stakeholders, and worldviews—which he argue help illustrate how Grounded engages oblique lenses. More broadly, they show how such lenses can be applied in designing, redesigning, structuring, and implementing STEMM teaching and learning initiatives that remain relevant and meaningful for current and future student and educator populations. For each dimension engaged obliquely, he briefly outlines an example of how this is enacted within Grounded.
Grounded curriculum, Grounded themes, Grounded tasks.... This is a very theoretical paper. Perhaps a few topics or tasks could be inserted into the article, because right now the author only gives the reader a sense of what this “Grounded in Place effort” actually consists of.
The work includes 30 references: 25 are from after 2000, and 5 are from before 2000.
Author Response
Please see attached PDF document.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsI found this article incredibly compelling and important. Those of us involved in mathematics education, or education in general, often feel in our hearts the right thing to do, but after endless meetings to develop policies, standards, and to placate constituents, we rarely ever lead with our hearts.
I have no editing suggestions; it was beautifully written.
Author Response
Please see attached PDF document.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsDear authors,
The topic of the paper is extremely interesting, as is the unique writing style. Below are some recommendations to improve the paper:
1. The abstract should be expanded to include specific conclusions.
2. Abbreviations should be explained upon first mention.
3. Keywords should be limited to those that accurately reflect the article's content.
4. The English language should be improved.
5. Writing in the first person singular is not acceptable in scientific publishing; it is mandatory to use the third person and maintain an objective approach.
6. A separate conclusion section should be included, briefly stating the author's final thoughts.
7. It is necessary to explicitly state the research questions one intends to answer based on scientific facts.
Best regards,
Reviewer
Author Response
Please see attached PDF document
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsDear authors,
Thank you for considering most of the suggestions.
Good luck with your future research.
Best regards,
Reviewer
Author Response
Thank you very much.
