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Full-Text Articles in Education

Undergraduate Mathematics Students Question And Critique Society Through Mathematical Modeling, Will Tidwell, Amy Bennett Jan 2024

Undergraduate Mathematics Students Question And Critique Society Through Mathematical Modeling, Will Tidwell, Amy Bennett

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

Mathematics can be used as a tool to question and critique society and, in doing so, give us more information about the world around us and how it operates. This however, is not a common perspective that is conveyed to students during their undergraduate mathematics coursework. This paper contributes to the understanding of how undergraduate mathematics students question and critique society via mathematical modeling tasks. In two courses at two universities, 27 mathematics majors and secondary preservice teachers engaged in the modeling process situated in authentic contexts to learn specific concepts and make mathematical connections across domains and disciplines. Both …


Supporting Mathematic Achievement For Students With Learning Disabilities Through Enhanced Anchored Instruction, Wendie Lappin Castillo Dec 2020

Supporting Mathematic Achievement For Students With Learning Disabilities Through Enhanced Anchored Instruction, Wendie Lappin Castillo

The STEAM Journal

Difficulties in mathematical learning are common and significant.The struggle has increased exponentially with the Common Core State Standards in effect. Students with or without learning or mathematical disabilities may respond to continued failure by withdrawing their effort, carrying low self-esteem, and/or displaying avoidance behaviors. Enhanced anchored instruction is designed to provide students the opportunity to construct knowledge and design solutions to problems collaboratively. The approach of enhanced anchored instruction attempts to guide students to become more active in learning through the use of technology. Enhanced anchored instruction provides students the opportunity to work through problems attached to a visual anchor. …


Case Studies On The Transfer Of Knowledge Within The Interdisciplinary Steam Curricula Construct, Laura Rachel Fattal Dec 2019

Case Studies On The Transfer Of Knowledge Within The Interdisciplinary Steam Curricula Construct, Laura Rachel Fattal

The STEAM Journal

Sharing anecdotal case study research documents the vibrancy of personal communication to reveal both spontaneous reactions and profound thinking on the transfer of knowledge in the interdisciplinary STEAM curricula construct. With the growing research and attention to arts-integration and STEAM curricula development, a critical assignment in a graduate course in Arts-integration: Interactive Strategies for (STEAM) teaching and learning required the in-service teachers, who were the students in the course, to be teacher/researchers. In a two-to-three page case study, the students documented evidence of one or two K-12 students’ transfer of knowledge between two or more disciplines – science, technology, engineering, …


Using Steam To Increase Engagement And Literacy Across Disciplines, Robert L. Long Ii, Stephen S. Davis Dec 2017

Using Steam To Increase Engagement And Literacy Across Disciplines, Robert L. Long Ii, Stephen S. Davis

The STEAM Journal

This paper explores STEAM as a solution to improving student engagement and helping students improve functional literacy across the curriculum. While STEM is a fairly established approach to curriculum, researchers and practitioners are continuing to develop and understand STEAM and its place in school curriculum. It is important that educators foster this holistic approach to education and strive to participate in active research associated with STEAM. It is also most advantageous for stakeholders to understand the importance of arts integration and its use to support collaboration, innovation, and creativity within students. Key strategies can be used to support arts integration …


A Brief History Of Stem And Steam From An Inadvertent Insider, Lisa G. Catterall Dec 2017

A Brief History Of Stem And Steam From An Inadvertent Insider, Lisa G. Catterall

The STEAM Journal

This article traces a history of STEM and STEAM from the perspective of someone involved in arts integration research for the last 35 years, and proposes a vision for the next steps. It also provides an assessment of the risks inherent in current trends of STEAM roll-out in schools, from the lack of resources for professional development to the burgeoning market in STEAM kits and activity books that do not lead to the original learning goals of STEAM.


Using Ibl In A History Of Mathematics Course: A Skeptic’S Success, Michael E. Matthews, Angela M. Hodge Jul 2016

Using Ibl In A History Of Mathematics Course: A Skeptic’S Success, Michael E. Matthews, Angela M. Hodge

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

A college professor, who is highly skeptical of change, but sensing a need for teaching in a more inspiring and engaging way, implements an inquiry-based learning (IBL) approach to teaching the history of mathematics. The first author (Matthews) worked with an experienced IBL colleague mentor (Hodge) on the course. Some student data was collected to document the effects of the class on the students. The approach taken for the course is described in detail including how the students of the course learned about and used IBL in key peer-to-peer teaching about historical mathematics (with a primary focus on the mathemat- …


The Role Of Sequence In The Experience Of Mathematical Beauty, Leslie Dietiker Jan 2016

The Role Of Sequence In The Experience Of Mathematical Beauty, Leslie Dietiker

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

In this article, I analyze the aesthetic dimensions of a sequence of mathematical events found in an unusual first grade lesson in order to demonstrate how sequencing may affect an individual’s experience of mathematical beauty. By approaching aesthetic as a sense or felt quality of an experience in context (Sinclair, 2001, 2011), this analysis explains how sequence can affect the way mathematical objects or actions are experienced by an individual. Thus, rather than questioning whether or in what ways a set of mathematical objects are beautiful or not, this paper addresses under what conditions is the mathematics in play beautiful. …


Engaging Many Minds: Nurturing Collaboration In A Steam Context, Mark Dzula Sep 2015

Engaging Many Minds: Nurturing Collaboration In A Steam Context, Mark Dzula

The STEAM Journal

This field note describes a recent interdisciplinary project facilitated by Jeremy Gercke, an art teacher at the Bishop's School in La Jolla, California. The project creates ceramic tile markers for flora around the Bishop's School campus. The markers feature QR codes linking to websites populated with student content, including: drawings, information, and oral histories. In this project, Mr. Gercke synthesizes his interests as an artist; maximizes his social connections to mentors, peers and students; and bridges disciplines to create opportunities for interdisciplinary (STEAM) inquiry.


The Sound Of Steam, Rodney Harshbarger, Denise Harshbarger Feb 2014

The Sound Of Steam, Rodney Harshbarger, Denise Harshbarger

The STEAM Journal

This field note describes how teachers and students developed an integrated STEAM unit around sound. The project involved dynamic interactions between concepts in math, science, and music.


What Is So Negative About Negative Exponents?, Geoffrey D. Dietz Jan 2014

What Is So Negative About Negative Exponents?, Geoffrey D. Dietz

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

While teaching college-level mathematics (from College Algebra to Calculus to Abstract Algebra), I have observed that students are often uncomfortable using negative exponents in calculations. I believe the fault partially lies in the manner in which negative exponents are taught in Algebra 1 or Algebra 2 courses, especially in rigid instructions always to write answers using only positive exponents. After reviewing a sample of algebra texts used in the United States over the last two centuries, it appears that while attitudes toward negative exponents have varied from author to author over time, the current trend is to declare explicitly that …


Susan Bauer's 2003 Theory Of Well-Educated Mind: Could The Classical Approach To Teaching History Work In Southern California History K12 Classrooms?, Tomasz B. Stanek Nov 2013

Susan Bauer's 2003 Theory Of Well-Educated Mind: Could The Classical Approach To Teaching History Work In Southern California History K12 Classrooms?, Tomasz B. Stanek

LUX: A Journal of Transdisciplinary Writing and Research from Claremont Graduate University

The main purpose of this research evolved from the publication of S. W. Bauer Well-educated mind, a study of the significance of new methods of teaching history course. Bauer (2003) argues that the grammarian approach of simple recognition and memorization removes students from reading primary sources. This theory suggests a new methodology for the instructors and students through the three-stage process of grammar, dialectic, and rhetoric preparation with aid of primary sources or “great books list”. This paper supports Bauer’s thesis and provides evidence through extensive interviews that indeed this concept of pedagogy is present in Southern California schools.


Cultural Immersion And Mathematics Teacher Education: Explorations In Morocco And South Africa, Kori L.H. Maxwell, Iman C. Chahine Jul 2013

Cultural Immersion And Mathematics Teacher Education: Explorations In Morocco And South Africa, Kori L.H. Maxwell, Iman C. Chahine

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

This article examines the first author's personal experiences as a mathematics educator studying ethnomathematics and indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) through immersion in indigenous cultures. In describing these encounters, we highlight the importance and impact of cultural immersion experiences on educators' perspectives regarding the nature of mathematical knowledge. We argue that cultural immersion not only builds a well-rounded individual, but also provides educators with the necessary tools to maintain relevance in the diverse and constantly evolving landscape that is the classroom. Insights gained from this study have direct implications in our teaching practices as they remind us to be mindful of …


At The Gate Of Discovery, Jan Nordgreen Jan 2013

At The Gate Of Discovery, Jan Nordgreen

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

This is the story of how a mathematical problem was discovered. Although it was never solved, it gave great joy to the discoverer.


Divisibility: A Problem Solving Approach Through Generalizing And Specializing, Rina Zazkis Jun 2002

Divisibility: A Problem Solving Approach Through Generalizing And Specializing, Rina Zazkis

Humanistic Mathematics Network Journal

This paper describes a divisibility rule for any prime number as an engaging problem-solving activity for preservice secondary school mathematics teachers.


On The Preparation Of High School Mathematics Teachers, Edna Maura Zuffi Aug 2001

On The Preparation Of High School Mathematics Teachers, Edna Maura Zuffi

Humanistic Mathematics Network Journal

In this paper I discuss some results got in 1997/98 with Brazilian mathematics school teachers. The research was done to investigate their mathematical language as related to the concept of function. A dichotomy was detected between “formal” and “practical” language they used to express their own conceptions of function, as well as to teach their students this subject. Also, I found teachers’ conceptual images “shrinking” as soon as they were far from their colleges or universities programs.


The Pythagorean Theorem And Area: Postulates Into Theorems, Paul A. Kennedy, Kenneth Evans Aug 2001

The Pythagorean Theorem And Area: Postulates Into Theorems, Paul A. Kennedy, Kenneth Evans

Humanistic Mathematics Network Journal

No abstract provided.


A Geometry Course For Prospective Secondary School Teachers, Jeff Connor, Barbara Grover May 2001

A Geometry Course For Prospective Secondary School Teachers, Jeff Connor, Barbara Grover

Humanistic Mathematics Network Journal

No abstract provided.