Ratih Ayu Apsari

About Me:

I received my PhD in Education with focus on Learning Sciences and Human Development from the University of California, Berkeley. My research focuses on promoting epistemic diversity and cultural funds of knowledge in students by integrating culturally situated embodied cognition into mathematics education. My dissertation centered on the Geometry Resources in Dance (GRiD) project, a gridded floor mat that turns tacit attentional anchors for movement coordination into auxiliary lines for geometric practice. I am now developing digital and digital-tangible versions of the GRiD design to explore how multimodal sensory experiences can support mathematical reasoning.

Originally from Bali, my formal background is in mathematics education, and I have also received informal training as a Balinese traditional dancer. Before starting my PhD, I spent five years teaching in mathematics education study programs at Indonesian public universities. During my PhD, I served for four years as a Graduate Student Instructor for the CalTeach program at UC Berkeley. Beyond university appointments, I actively support educational communities and institutions through various online classes and nonprofit programs. Whenever I have the opportunity, I also enjoy performing Balinese dance at events in the Bay Area.

Research Interest: mathematics education, embodied cognition, design-based research, cultural funds of knowledge, cross-cultural epistemic diversity

Publications and Presentations

• Apsari, R. A., & Abrahamson, D. (2026). Leveraging heteroperception in collaborative embodied design: The case of whole-body enacting a geometry definition <Research report>. In H. Krzywacki, M. Hähkiöniemi, E. Haataja, M. Hannula, & P. Hästö (Eds.), Proceedings of the 49th Conference of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education: Research Reports (PME49) (pp. 67–94). PME.
• Abrahamson, D., Lomos, C., Hilkey, S., Apsari, R. A., & Palatnik, A. (2026). Heteroperception in joint action: Breakdown and reconciliation of collaborating learners’ differing views of mathematical objects. Learning, Culture and Social Interaction, 59, Article 101003. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lcsi.2026.101003
• Apsari, R. A., & Abrahamson, D. (2026). The emergence of sign–tool hybridity in situated geometry practice: A networking perspective. Educational Studies in Mathematics, 123, 49–72. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10649-026-10491-8
• Apsari, R. A., & Abrahamson, D. (2026, March). Flooring dance: From perception to inscription in a culturally situated embodied geometry design. “Single paper” presented at the annual meeting of the European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction (EARLI) Special Interest Groups 10, 17, 21 & 25. University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany..
• Apsari, R. A., & Abrahamson, D. (2025). Culturally situated embodied design: A cognitive–anthropological investigation of Balinese spatial practice toward grounding geometry. In X. Yao, A. McCloskey, R. M. Zbiek, & R. Martinez (Eds.), Proceedings of the 47th annual meeting of the North-American Chapter of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education (pp. 1473–1482). Pennsylvania State University. https://doi.org/ 10.51272/pmena.47.2025
• Apsari, R. A., & Abrahamson, D. (2025). Strings attached: A Balinese dance from attentional anchors to auxiliary constructions. In T. Verhoeff, D. Swart, S. L. Gould, & E. Torrence (Eds.), Proceedings of Bridges 2025: Mathematics and the Arts (pp. 539–542). Tessellations Publishing. http://archive.bridgesmathart.org/2025/bridges2025-539.html
• Apsari, R. A., & Abrahamson, D. (2025). Grounding mathematics learning in culturally authentic movement practices: From attentional anchors in Balinese dancing to auxiliary lines in geometry reasoning. In A. Rajala, A. Cortez, R. Hofmann, A. Jornet, H. Lotz-Sisitka, & L. Markauskaite (Eds.), Proceedings of the annual International Conference of the Learning Sciences (ICLS 2025) (pp. 92–100). ISLS.
• Apsari, R. A. (2025). Geometry Resources in Dance (GRiD): Embodied design-based research to foster the construction of auxiliary lines in solving geometry problems from tacit attentional anchors in movement practice. Poster presented at the New Members Session Poster Presentations, The International Conference of the Learning Sciences. Helsinki, Finland.
• Apsari, R. A., & Abrahamson, D. (2026, 2024/11/24). Dancing geometry: Imagining auxiliary lines by reflecting on physical movement. International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, 57(2), 342–369. https://doi.org/10.1080/0020739X.2024.2427099
• Castro,  A. D. L. A., Kelly, E. N., Hoang, T., & Apsari, R. A. (2023). Elicitation of multimodal mathematical reasoning in Balinese dance through verbal and non-verbal justification. Poster presented for CalTeach Poster Session EDSTEM C122 <UGrad Research Mentored>, University of California, Berkeley.
• Apsari, R. A. (2023). Grounding auxiliary geometrical constructions as semiotic articulation of tacit proprioception: The case of basic posture in Balinese dance. Poster prepared for Research Day, Berkeley School of Education, University of California, Berkeley.
• Apsari, R. A. (2024). Grounding auxiliary geometrical constructions as semiotic articulation of tacit attentional anchors: The case of Balinese dance. Poster presented for Research Day, Berkeley School of Education, University of California, Berkeley.
• Apsari, R. A. (2024). Grounding geometry as movement discourse: The case of auxiliary constructions in Balinese dance. In D. Abrahamson (Chair) & S. Gerofsky (Discussant), In-sight out: Challenges and opportunities in learning mathematics through negotiating egocentric and allocentric perspectives. Symposium conducted at the SIG Research in Mathematics Education at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Philadelphia.
• Hahn, S., Tolentino, A., Kulchin, O., Huang, X., Perez, J., Yan, J., Apsari, R. A. (2024). Geometry in Balinese dance. Poster presented for EDSTEM C122 Spring Semester, University of California, Berkeley.

Invited Talks and Workshops

• Apsari, R. A. (2026, August 28). Tracing tacit perceptual lines: Situating mathematics learning in the cultural practice of dance. Invited speaker at the Mathematics Education Seminar, Department of Mathematics, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, USA.
• Apsari R. A. (2026, April 28). From dance movement to geometric reasoning: Multimodal analysis to trace learning pathways in embodied mathematics design. Invited speaker, Department of Mathematics Education, Universitas Pattimura, Maluku, Indonesia.
• Abrahamson, D., Lomos, C., Hilkey, S., Apsari, R. A., & Palatnik, A. (2026, April 23). Heteroperception in joint action: Breakdown and reconciliation of collaborating learners’ differing views of mathematical objects. Invited speaker at SESAME Colloquium, University of California, Berkeley, USA.
• Apsari, R. A. (2026, April 17). Getting to know innovative work in educational research: Designing geometry resources in dance (GRiD) learning intervention. Invited speaker at Cathedral School for Boys, San Francisco: SF’s influence on American consciousness—Intersession 2026, Berkeley, USA.
• Apsari R. A. (2026, March 27). Conducting interdisciplinary mathematics education research: Insights from a culturally situated embodied geometry design. Invited speaker at Workshop on Scientific Writing: From Creative Research to Publication, Graduate School of Mathematics Education, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Solo, Indonesia.
• Apsari, R. A. (2025, December 15). Research on grounding mathematics in cultural practice: The case of GRiD dancing-geometry project. Invited speaker at Webinar Series in Collaborative Research in Mathematics Education, organized by the Indonesian Group for Research and Learning in Mathematics Education (IGRiME) and the Mathematics Department of Universitas Negeri Makassar (UNM), Indonesia.
• Apsari, R. A. (2025, December 9). From tradition to transformation: Embodied cultural design for the primary school mathematics classroom. Invited speaker and workshop facilitator at the Primary Education Department, BINUS University, Jakarta, Indonesia.
• Apsari, R. A., & Abrahamson, D. (2025). Culturally situated embodied design: A framework for grounding mathematical concepts in students’ authentic cultural practices. Invited lecture in P. Nilsson (Chair), Design research in mathematics education <Symposium>. Linnæus University, Växjö, Sweden, October 29, 2025.
• Apsari, R. A. (2025). Culturally situated mathematics design: Balinese local spatial Practice as a Semiotic Resource for Geometric Reasoning. Invited speaker in B. Z. Melani (Chair), The 7th International Conference on Education and Social Science (ICESS), Universitas Mataram, Indonesia, July 10, 2025Apsari, R. A. (2025). Culturally Situated Embodied Mathematics Design: Tracing the Invisible with Geometry Resources in Dance (GRiD). Invited speaker in Kurniasari, I., Prawoto, B.P., & Lestariningsih, L. (Chairs). The 2nd International Conference of Interdisciplinary Research and Studies in Mathematics (Inciresma 2025), Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Indonesia, July 19, 2025
• Apsari, R. A. (2025). Culturally Situated Embodied Mathematics Design: Tracing the Invisible with Geometry Resources in Dance (GRiD). Invited speaker in Kurniasari, I., Prawoto, B.P., & Lestariningsih, L. (Chairs). The 2nd International Conference of Interdisciplinary Research and Studies in Mathematics (Inciresma 2025), Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Indonesia, July 19, 2025
• Apsari, R. A. (2025). Culturally Situated Embodied Mathematics Design: Tracing the Invisible with Geometry Resources in Dance (GRiD). Invited speaker in Kurniasari, I., Prawoto, B.P., & Lestariningsih, L. (Chairs). The 2nd International Conference of Interdisciplinary Research and Studies in Mathematics (Inciresma 2025), Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Indonesia, July 19, 2025
• Apsari, R. A. (2025). Dancing geometry. Facilitator in K. Schaffer (Program Coordinator). Dancing and Mathematics Family Day Activity, Bridges: Mathematics, Art, Music, Architecture, Education, Culture Conference <Workshop>, Eindhoven, the Netherlands, July 17, 2025Apsari, R. A. (2025). Culturally situated embodied mathematical design. In Skrzypowska, J. (Chair). Workshop for Educators and Researchers at the Tinkatorium Station, Copernicus Science Center, Warsaw, Poland, July 4, 2025
• Apsari, R. A. (2025). Culturally situated embodied mathematical design. In Skrzypowska, J. (Chair). Workshop for Educators and Researchers at the Tinkatorium Station, Copernicus Science Center, Warsaw, Poland, July 4, 2025
• Apsari, R. A. (2025). Culturally situated embodied mathematical design. In Skrzypowska, J. (Chair). Workshop for Educators and Researchers at the Tinkatorium Station, Copernicus Science Center, Warsaw, Poland, July 4, 2025
• Apsari, R. A., Surjorahardjo, I.J., & Wirjadi, K. (2025). Dancing geometry. In K. Graf & L. Jacoby (Co-chairs). Expand Your Horizon at Berkeley, Workshop for 5th–8th grade girls, trans youth, and gender non-conforming and/or non-binary students, University of California, Berkeley, USA, April 12, 2025
• Apsari, R. A., (2024). Dancing geometry: Embodied-design for culturally situated mathematics classroom. Invited lecturer, Elementary School Teacher Education Program, Universitas Islam Raden Rahmat, Malang, Indonesia, December 13, 2024
• Apsari, R. A. (2025). Balinese dance and embodied mathematical design <Participatory presentation>. In D. Abrahamson & A. R. Jensenius (Workshop Chairs), Embodied Design and Multimodal Learning Analytics, Berkeley, California, USA. https://edrl.berkeley.edu/workshops-and-symposia/edammla-international-workshop/
• Apsari, R. A. (2025). Invited speaker. In A. Amrullah (Chair). Seminar Nasional Pendidikan Matematika dan Terapan (National Seminar on Mathematics Education and Application), Universitas Mataram, Indonesia, November 18, 2023
• Apsari, R. A. (2025). Invited speaker. In Scientific Adventures for Girls, Washington Elementary School, Berkeley, USA, November 16, 2023

Grants

Jacobs Institute Innovation Catalysts, Spring 2024

Teaching

• Graduate Student Instructor, EDUC 131AC, Classroom Interactions in Science & Mathematics A Focus on Equity and Urban Schools (with Daniel Golub), UC Berkeley, Spring 2024
• Graduate Student Instructor, EDUC 130, Knowing and Learning in Mathematics and Science (with Brantina Chirinda), UC Berkeley, Fall 2023
• Graduate Student Instructor, EDUC 130, Knowing and Learning in Mathematics and Science (with Lloyd Goldwasser), UC Berkeley, Spring 2023
• Graduate Student Instructor, EDSTEM 187, Project-Based Instruction (with Mark Spencer), UC Berkeley, Fall 2022
• Graduate Student Instructor, HIST 182T, Introduction to Science, Technology, and Society (with Hannah Zeavin), UC Berkeley, Spring 2022
• Graduate Student Instructor, HIST 182T, History of Science in the United States (with Hannah Zeavin), UC Berkeley, Fall 2021

Research Mentoring Experiences

• UC Berkeley EDSTEM C122 Research Method: Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Fall 2025
• UC Berkeley Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program (URAP): Fall 2024, Spring 2025, Fall 2025

Peer Review Services for International Journals and Conferences

• Instructional Science
• Mathematics Education Research Journal
• International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology
• Journal of Mathematics Education
• Perceptual and Motor Skills
• Southeast Asian Mathematics Education Journal
• Journal of Research and Advances in Mathematics Education
• ERME Topic Conference 2026, with the theme Connecting the Learning of Mathematics Teaching to Practice
• EARLI SIG 10, 17, 21, and 25 Conference 2026, with the theme Meaningful Metamorphoses: Navigating Learning and Instruction in/for Times of Change

Peer Review Services for Indonesian National Journals

• Inomatika (Inovasi Matematika), STKIP Muhammadiyah Bangka Beltung
• JPM Rafa, UIN Raden Fatah Palembang
• Mandalika, Universitas Mataram
• AlphaMath: Journal of Mathematics Education, Universitas Muhammadiyah Purwokerto
• JUPITEK (Jurnal Pendidikan Matematika), Universitas Pattimura
• BETA Jurnal Tadris Matematika, UIN Mataram
• EDUMATICA, Universitas Jambi
• Jurnal Pendidikan dan Pembelajaran Matematika Indonesia (JPPMI), Universitas Pendidikan Ganesha
• Mosharafa: Jurnal Pendidikan Matematika, Institut Pendidikan Indonesia
• PLUSMINUS: Jurnal Pendidikan Matematika, Institute Pendidikan Indonesia

Project

Geometry Resources in Dance (GRiD)