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Eric.ed.gov – Widget Based Learning in Math and Physics Undergraduate Courses as Blended Learning Approach

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: This work summarizes the didactic design and introductory outcomes in an educative program, involving six math and physics university courses for engineers, based on the use and construction of widgets. Widgets were generated under Project Oriented Learning and blended learning methodologies. In the program, widgets previously generated by teachers are firstly used by students to appropriate basic and middle concepts. After, students were requested to generate their own widgets to develop complex thinking skills, applying related concepts but involving alternative situations. Design was based on curriculum integration to build mathematical, technical and visual representations of the problems and concepts involved. Wolfram Alpha, Desmos and Mathtab widget developers were used to generate ad hoc activities in terms of their capabilities and course requirements. Post-test only results of students’… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – The Math Learning Gap: Preparing STEM Technicians for the New Rural Economy

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: The Rural Math Excel Partnership (RMEP) identified math competencies used by technicians in the workplace compared to standards of learning required in the public school curriculum. A modified DACUM process revealed 39 math competencies used by technicians in STEM-related occupations of the rural region. Group interviews with faculty in three community colleges helped substantiate math gaps. A project math specialist and team of teachers identified four types of learning gaps: (1) math competencies not included in state standards; (2) math competencies included in state standards taught prior to Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, and Algebra Functions and Data Analysis (AFDA) courses; (3) math competencies included in high school state standards that students struggle to learn; and (4) math competencies community college students struggle to learn. Implications include… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Making Pre-K Count: Improving Math Instruction in New York City

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: In the context of a persistent achievement lag among low-income children despite substantial investments in early education, policymakers and practitioners continue to seek ways to improve the quality of children’s preschool experiences. The Making Pre-K Count study addresses whether strengthening prekindergarten (pre-K) instruction in math, hypothesized to be a “linchpin” skill in children’s development, can improve children’s short- and longer-term learning. Specifically, the study rigorously evaluated the effect of an evidence-based math curriculum called Building Blocks along with ongoing training and in-classroom coaching, relative to the typical pre-K experience. Making Pre-K Count took place in 69 pre-K sites and over 170 classrooms across New York City. Thirty-five of the pre-K sites were assigned to receive the math curriculum, training, and coaching over two years (the “BB-MPC” group),… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – An Action Research Project by Teacher Candidates and Their Instructor into Using Math Inquiry: Learning about Relations between Theory and Practice

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: This paper reports on what two teacher candidates and their instructor learned from an action research project into the use of inquiry to teach mathematics. We use a model of the relation between theory and practice in teacher education to interpret what we learned about inquiry. This model describes three modes for teacher candidates to learn about teaching: (1) applying theory to practice; (2) interpreting theory and practice, and (3) building/refining personal, practical and professional theories. We learned to (1) apply the 4D-Cycle Model of inquiry, (2) interpret what it means for inquiry to be flexible, and (3) build a theory of teaching with inquiry based on non-linear and community-based dispositions of teachers toward learning. We conclude by suggesting that this model could constitute a developmental pathway… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Improving Student Learning in Math through Web-Based Homework

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: Much debate surrounds the effectiveness of the common educational practice of homework (Cooper et al., 2006). A randomized-controlled trial has shown that using a web-based homework system that provides immediate feedback to students, while they are doing their mathematics homework, and detailed item reports to teachers significantly improves student learning. The use of that data also changed the homework review process, leading to a more comprehensive and meaningful review of student errors and misconceptions. [For the complete proceedings, see ED597799.] Link til kilde

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Eric.ed.gov – Assessing Course Redesign: The Case of Developmental Math

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: Higher education institutions have taken to redesigning high-enrollment, introductory courses to improve student learning outcomes, student success, and degree completion. This paper presents findings from the assessment of course redesign by focusing on the case of developmental math at a large community college. The college adopted modularization, a common course redesign method in which concepts are disaggregated into modules and delivered through computer software. Preliminary results from the quantitative analysis of student performance in redesigned courses have been mixed. The study discusses faculty and student views and experiences with modular math redesign in order to complement and help illuminate the results from the quantitative analysis. Using evidence from five focus groups, one with faculty and four with students, the paper provides insights on how to help faculty… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Much More than It’s Cooked-up to Be: Reflections on Doing Math and Teachers’ Professional Learning

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: The author argues that students’ persistent struggles with mathematics suggest a new form of professional development for teachers is needed. The author draws on a model of professional learning in literacy education to propose an analogous model for mathematics education: teachers of mathematics need to produce mathematical ideas, themselves, in order to better support their students in becoming mathematical thinkers. It is not enough to focus singularly on developing teachers’ content understanding, however, because mathematical ideas are embedded within their representational forms; therefore, any content-related professional development must also include pedagogical discussions. The author concludes by describing a research-based, high-quality professional development community–the Philadelphia Area Math Teachers’ Circle (PAMTC)–in which authentic mathematical inquiry and pedagogical analysis occur hand-in-hand. Link til kilde

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Eric.ed.gov – It Does Matter How We Teach Math

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: This paper describes application of innovative practice and procedures in relationship to recognized principles and theory of adult education used in college math instruction. Adult learning principles provide the theoretical constructs and foundation of the practice supporting a learner-centered approach to learning. The purpose was to explore the needs of learners and the learning contexts that would help them achieve higher dimensions of critical thinking and cognitive development. Based on Knowles’ six assumptions of andragogy, curriculum was designed to provide college math students meaningful learning experiences, critical thinking skills, and application within the context of the classroom. Creativity and hands-on learning proved to be beneficial not only to tactile and kinesthetic learners but to others in the classrooms as well. Additionally, math anxiety is addressed and how… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Technology, Gender Attitude, and Software, among Middle School Math Instructors

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: Technology has gained a firm stronghold in society as well as modern classroom. Students are assumed to have a natural aptitude for computers. Over the past decades, educational websites have appeared to be “interactive” and “to make learning fun”. This study employed quantitative method of research using 8th grade instructors from South East Dallas Texas school district. Data was collected via Microsoft Excel and SPSS computation. The survey instrument tested for internal consistency and reliability. The seven Likert scale items tested nine variables for Pearson correlation. A t-test detected non-significance at the p > 0.05 level of probability indicating that male teachers seldom use technology to teach math than their female colleagues. A second t-test showed a significant difference at p < 0.05 level for difference between… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Is There Room in Math Reform for Preservice Teachers to Use Reading Strategies? National Implications

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: Background: Research is proposed for preservice secondary mathematics teachers to develop and use reading strategies in math classrooms. Purpose: to determine if increased instruction on using specific reading strategies in secondary mathematics classrooms significantly impacts a) the type of reading-specific instructional strategies used, b) awareness of preservice math teachers of their roles as content reading teachers and understanding of reading issues as related to mathematics. Setting: University undergraduate content area reading course for preservice teachers; university undergraduate mathematics methods course for preservice secondary math teachers. Study Sample: all secondary preservice teachers enrolled in each course will participate. Intervention: The treatment course students will receive intensified reading training in the content area reading course as relates to mathematics. Additionally, specific reading strategies will be discussed in the math… Continue Reading