RAJEE AMARASINGHECSU FRESNO

InstitutionalizationChanges in Policy and Practice Among Partners

Through the Eyes of Institute of Higher Education

BackgroundChanges within the IHEFaculty and Teacher CollaborationsOther significant impacts

BACKGROUND

BACKGROUND

Background

Central Valley Math and Science partnership Fresno Unified School District (2004-2007) 120 teachers

Central Valley Math Project Sanger Unified SD & Kings Canyon Unified SD (2005-2008) 75 teachers

Teaching and Learning Collaborative Central Unified School District (2005-2008) 50 teachers

Background…

Central Valley Mathematics Research project Sanger Unified SD & Kings Canyon Unified (2008-20011) 40 teachers

Washington Union mathematics Consortium Washington Unified school district (2008-20011) 50 teachers

Fresno Mathematics Academy Fresno Unified School District (2009-20012) 100 teachers

Central Unified E2 partnership Central Unified School District (2009-2012) 35 teachers

Changes in the IHE

Exposing mathematics faculty to K-12 education. 9 faculty members from the department of mathematics

participated in MSP funded projects They are the faculty responsible for teaching

mathematics content for future elementary and secondary teachers

All multiple subject teachers learn mathematics content from these math faculty

~60% of the mathematics majors become high school teachers

Some of the faculty are responsible for instructing methods courses

Changes in the IHE

Exposing mathematics faculty to K-12 education… Going to schools to participate in lesson planning Familiarize with k-12 the math content and standards Planning units and lessons with teachers Visiting classrooms Observe lessons, how students learn and interact with

each other Critiques the lessons and redesign them Conducting summer workshops and year-round

workshops for the teachers

Changes in the IHE

Implications of exposing mathematics faculty to K-12 education… Better understanding of the content standards the

university students have to teach in the future Choosing and emphasizing appropriate content in

college level classes Better understanding of school culture and issues will

help them to prepare future teachers appropriately Learn effective pedagogical techniques that can be

used in the university level classroom to enhance teaching and learning

Connections with the teachers and school administrators can open up opportunities for the future students and teachers

Changes in the IHE

Faculty Collaborations Collaborative planning of the MSP project

curriculum, lessons, and workshops. Co-instructing workshops by 2 or more faculty.

Changes in the IHE

Implications of Faculty Collaborations development of different culture among faculty.

Two new mathematics courses have been collaboratively developed by these faculty (Math 139, Math 149)

Group of 3 faculty redesigned a course changing its content and how it is delivered.

Group of 5 faculty co-authored a math text book for a course designed for multiple subject teachers’ capstone experience. (“Exploring mathematics: investigations for elementary school teachers”).

2 faculty members co-authored a text book for prospective middle school teachers (“Advanced Algebra for

Teachers”)

Faculty and Teacher Collaborations

Image of the university mathematics faculty has changed among the teachers.

Teachers willingness to work with university faculty has changed significantly. Inviting university faculty to classrooms. Asking content related help. Sharing lessons and ideas. Asking advise on professional enhancement.

Planning and co-instructing with teacher leaders have helped to learn from each other.

Faculty and Teacher Collaborations

Collaboratively developing teacher leaders Promoting natural leaders to become lesson study

facilitators and then to become teacher leaders. Promoting these leaders to co-plan and co-instruct

summer workshops with faculty. Promoting these leaders to participate in California

math project leadership institutes. Promoting them to participate and give presentations

in statewide conferences (i.e. CMC, NCTM).

Other significant impacts

Development of dedicated classrooms for teachers in the university.

Transfer of use of technology in instruction Document cameras Promethean boards GeoGebra

Rajee AmarasingheDepartment of Mathematics

California State University, Fresnoramarasi@csufresno.edu