New Learning Tools for Future Math Teachers
Mathematics for Teachers courses — MAT201, MAT202, and MAT304 — are undergoing thoughtful redevelopment by three faculty members who are redesigning the classes to create a more supportive and engaging learning environment for students who plan to become elementary school math teachers.
Christine Hubbard, Dr. Jen Bonham, and Jason Rogers, the three instructors collaborating on the initiative, have extensive experience in teaching, coaching and supervision within public school systems.
The courses will now integrate digital tools, including Desmos, a teaching and learning platform, and incorporate interactive strategies such as card sorts, virtual manipulatives, and inquiry-based activities in which students explore questions, investigate solutions, and construct solutions. Aspiring teachers will learn critical thinking skills that will help students meet Common Core State Standards, the level at which children in grades K-12 should perform in math.
“They are preparing future educators not only to understand Common Core, but to teach mathematics in ways that are meaningful, visual, and student-centered,” says Dr. Diane M. Bansbach, Mathematics chair. “Their combined expertise and commitment to excellence will help lay a strong mathematical foundation for our elementary education teacher candidates, better preparing them for success in the classroom,”
by Eileen Smith Dallabrida
