The Active Learning for Equitable Instruction series was part of the Math Initiative June 1-11 Professional Development Workshop. Details are provided in the .
Sessions were recorded and resources saved for those who choose to “enroll” after June 11.
UW System Math Initiative Project Director Alice Pulvermacher sent invitations to this Canvas course to mathematics faculty and instructors identified by Institutional Change Team leaders. Please direct questions to her at apulvermacher@uwsa.edu.
The active learning series of five virtual sessions met via Canvas Collaborate Ultra from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday the week of June 1, and Monday, June 8; with the final session 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thursday, June 11. Participants also were expected to join an afternoon sessions: the June 1 plenary.
Objectives:
- Review active learning guiding principles and experience application in a virtual classroom
- Consider and experience strategies to build community, including in a virtual classroom
- Explore selection and development of problems for meaningful assessments
Presenters:
Schedule:
Active learning session 1, Monday, June 1, 10 -11:30 a.m.: Active Learning Guiding Principles in the Virtual Mathematics Classroom
Focus: April Strom, Jenn Kosiak, and Carrie Tirel will focus on sharing the four guiding principles for active learning, investigating how these principles can be leveraged in the virtual mathematics classroom, and specifically attending to the principle involving equitable and inclusive practices.
- Students’ deep engagement in mathematical thinking
- Peer-to-peer interaction
- Instructors’ interest in and use of student thinking
- Instructors’ attention to equitable and inclusive practices
Active learning session 2, Wednesday, June 3, 10 -11:30 a.m.: Building Community in the (Virtual) Mathematics Classroom
Focus: Implementing active learning can be challenging in either face-to-face or the virtual classroom. One of the strategies that should be leveraged on Day 1 of the course is the idea of building community among the students and instructor. April Strom, Jenn Kosiak, and Carrie Tirel will focus on strategies for building community early in the virtual mathematics classroom. Participants will discuss:
- Synchronous Instruction
- Asynchronous Instruction (Canvas)
- CCSSMPs 8 mathematical practices, with MP3 and MP6 highlighted
Active learning session 3, Friday, June 5, 10-11:30 a.m.: Experiencing Mathematics in the Virtual Classroom–An Exploration of Exponential Functions
Focus: Thinking about implementing a mathematics activity in the virtual classroom that leverages the guiding principles of active learning? Experience a meaningful activity on exponential functions that can be implemented in the virtual classroom (and in face-to-face classrooms!). Facilitators April Strom, Jenn Kosiak, and Carrie Tirel will model exploration of exponential functions for Intermediate/College Algebra (comparison of multiplicative and linear growth/decay) through:
- Coronavirus activity (exponential growth)
- Compound Interest activity (exponential growth)
- Gamma Tiles activity (exponential decay)
Active learning session 4, Monday, June 8, 10-11:30 a.m.: Assessing Mathematical Knowledge (Part 1)
Focus: April Strom, Jenn Kosiak, and Carrie Tirel will focus on analyzing current assessment tasks given in an Intermediate Algebra and/or College Algebra course. We will have the opportunity to explore question types and discuss ideas for selecting and creating problems for summative and formative assessments.
- Discuss MAA Instructional Practices Guide: Assessment Practices
- Create and select problems for summative assessments
- Reflect on one of your current assessments and work together to create a new assessment
Active learning session 5, Thursday, June 11, 2-3:30 p.m.: Assessing Mathematical Knowledge (Part 2)
Focus: April Strom, Jenn Kosiak, and Carrie Tirel will focus on creating meaningful assessment tasks for Intermediate Algebra and/or College Algebra.