Math to Math Ed

From MathWiki

Table of contents

1 Resources on Bridging from Mathematics to Mathematics Education

2 Programs in Mathematics Departments - for Future Teachers

3 Some Themes

4 Bridging from Mathematics to Mathematics Education: A Workshop June 2009

5 Link to CMESG Conference Site June 2009

6 Some Follow Up: December 2009 CMS Adrien Pouliot Talk

7 Some Links and References

8 Contact

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Resources on Bridging from Mathematics to Mathematics Education

A very useful document discussing the importance of these connections, and the contributions that people in Mathematics Departments could be, and should be, making to the preparation of teachers of mathematics, is the Conference Board of the Mathematical Sciences (CBMS) book:

 The Mathematical Preparation of Teachers http://www.cbmsweb.org/MET_Document/index.htm

It can be purchased on line, or downloaded free as a PDF, or viewed as html.

At the MAA winter meeting in San Francisco, January 2010, there were several key resources being discussed. One key discussion was from the Curriculum Revision Across the First Two Years (CRAFTY) discussions with people in a number of disciplines served by Mathematics and Statistics Departments (including Education, Engineering, .... ). The materials are available for download at: http://www.maa.org/cupm/crafty/

A very remarkable observation is that the core, shared recommendations from these sources in other disciplines overlap with both the recommendations of the CBMS book on the Mathematical Preparation of Teachers, and with core recommendations of what the objectives are / should be for all mathematics majors, in terms of refocusing on mathematical processes as in-depth learning of some material, with flexibility around which topics are the focus and which will be local choices or be left to the students to learn if we have prepared students who can read and learn mathematics independently.

This growing consensus does not yet represent what most mathematics program are doing, or what most courses within programs are doing. This is the major challenge.

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Programs in Mathematics Departments - for Future Teachers

An interesting example of such a program, at a major research university in the US, is the program at UCLA: http://www.math.ucla.edu/~twg/mathed.html

The York University Program in Mathematics for Education is designed as a Major for either concurrent education students or for students who plan to apply for a consecutive education program: http://wiki.math.yorku.ca/index.php/Mathematics_for_Education_Program

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Some Themes

To support the work of mathematics departments in the mathematical preparation of future teachers of Mathematics, as well as the education of undergraduate mathematics majors, it is important to draw on the findings of researchers in mathematics education.

To support high quality research in mathematics education, it is also important to maintain a dialog between mathematicians and mathematics educators about how mathematicians practice mathematics, as well as mathematics as a discipline in service of other disciplines.

To maintain a strong, interdisciplinary conversation within CMESG, it is essential to renew the participation of Mathematicians in the joint meetings with Mathematics Educators. Such a stimulating mix of mathematicians and mathematics educators has been a key feature of the Canadian community in general, and the CMESG in particular. Such a dialog is also central to the long-term impact of the work in Mathematics Education on the preparation of teachers of mathematics and the development of high quality mathematics education in Canada.

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Bridging from Mathematics to Mathematics Education: A Workshop June 2009

A one-day workshop was held Friday June 5, 9-4:00, Department of Mathematics, York University.

This one day program was designed for people working in Mathematics Departments (or studying in Mathematics Programs) who are planning to join the larger CMESG conference, and would like an orientation to the issues, vocabulary, methods, … current in research in Mathematics Education in Canada. We have received funding from the Fields Institute for the Mathematical Sciences to organize this event.

The program was also designed for anyone in a Mathematics Department with an interest in closer collaborations / liaison with Faculties of Education and in making contributions to the preparation of pre-service teachers of mathematics.

Here is the Current Workshop Program as of June3, 2009. All presenters listed participated.

A group of `experienced mathematical hands’ in these CMESG conversations lead and animated our discussions with some contributions from some experienced people in mathematics education. Detailed planning continues.

In the evening, there was be a public lecture which was also the Opening Plenary for the CMESG conference. All participants were invited to stay on for this, and the BBQ which will take place between the workshop and the Plenary. == Sponsorship of June 2009 Day ==

This June event received support from the Fields Institute for Mathematical Sciences and from MITACS. With this funding we were able to cover all costs and make the event free of charge.

While not directly organized or ‘sponsored’ by the CMESG executive, this local experimental initiative had their support and a link to this pre-conference program appeared in the materials for the CMESG Conference.

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Link to CMESG Conference Site June 2009

http://wiki.math.yorku.ca/index.php/CMESG_York

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Some Follow Up: December 2009 CMS Adrien Pouliot Talk

On December 5 2009, Walter Whiteley gave an invited 45 minute 'Adrien Pouliot Award' talk at the Canadian Mathematics Society Winter Meeting on the same theme of Bridging Mathematics and Mathematics Education. In a number of ways, this reflected on the themes, and the discussions from the June workshop.

Here are the slides from the talk: Bridging Mathematics to Mathematics Education (Windsor 2009). I would be interested in feedback, discussion, debate, ... on these themes.

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