Konstantinos Christou

Academic Information

Studies

• Bachelor Degree in Mathematics, School of Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, 1999.
• Master’s Degree in Science Education, Centre for Science Education, University of Glasgow, Scotland, U.K., 2001.
• Doctoral Degree in Basic and Applied Cognitive Science, Interdisciplinary Graduate Programme, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and Athens University of Economics and Business, 2009.

Research Interests

• Development of mathematical knowledge from early childhood.
• Teaching of mathematical concepts in primary education.
• Socio-political dimensions of mathematics education.
• Cognitive and Affective factors in the teaching and learning of mathematics.

Courses and Seminars

Undergraduate:

• Fundamental mathematical concepts in early childhood education
• Logical-mathematical relationships and number concepts in early childhood education
• Materials and activities for teaching mathematics
• New approaches to mathematics education in early childhood

Selected Publications

• Christou, K. P., & Vellidou, E. (2026). First graders’ understanding of variables: Learning trajectories in a function machine environment. The Journal of Mathematical Behavior, 81, 101295. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmathb.2025.101295
• Maris, D. T., & Christou, K. P. (2025). Teaching mathematics for labour emancipation: an autoethnography of a math teacher in Mykonos. Journal of Humanistic Mathematics, 15(1), 60-86. https://doi.org/10.5642/jhummath.FBEN8921
• Christou, K. P., Kyrvei, D. I., & Vamvakoussi, X. (2024). Interpreting literal symbols in algebra under the effects of the natural number bias. Mathematical Thinking and Learning, 26(4), 331-344. https://doi.org/10.1080/10986065.2022.2128276
• Christou, K. P., Pollack, C., Van Hoof, J., & Van Dooren, W. (2020). Natural Number Bias in arithmetic operations with missing numbers – a reaction time study. Journal of Numerical Cognition, 6(1), 22-49. https://doi.org/10.5964/jnc.v6i1.228
• Christou, K. P. (2015). Natural Νumber Bias in operations with missing numbers. ZDM Mathematics Education, 47(5), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11858-015-0675-6  
• Christou, K. P. & Vosniadou, S. (2012). What kinds of numbers do students assign to literal symbols? Aspects of the transition from arithmetic to algebra. Mathematical Thinking and Learning, 14(1), 1-27. https://doi.org/10.1080/10986065.2012.625074

Other Information

• Member of the editorial board of the journal Διάλογοι! Θεωρία και Πράξη στις Επιστήμες Αγωγής και Εκπαίδευσης [Dialogues! Theory and Practice in the Sciences of Education] the yearbook of the School of Early Childhood Education, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 2022–2026.
• Scientific Coordinator of the Extended Practicum at the Department of Early Childhood Education, University of Western Macedonia, 2018–2022.
• Member of the Committee for the Design and Implementation of the New Undergraduate Programme of Studies, School of Early Childhood Education, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 2022–2026.
• Coordinator of the Special Interest Group on Conceptual Change, SIG 3, European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction, 2015–2019.
• Chair of the 11th International Conference on Conceptual Change, Epistemic Cognition and Conceptual Change, 27 August to 1 September 2018, Klagenfurt, Austria.
• Member of the Hellenic Association of Researchers in Mathematics Education; member of the Board of Directors, (2024 to present).
• Member of the Hellenic Society for Cognitive Science; member of the Board of Directors (2025 to present).