Frascella.
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Frascella.
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High school teachers from throughout Indiana will have the opportunity to
learn how to best incorporate graphing calculators into innovative,
effective mathematics curricula through a new program by the Indiana
University Center for Mathematics Education, which was founded last year
to improve K-12 mathematics education throughout the state.
The new project is funded by a one-year, renewable $130,000 Eisenhower
grant through the Indiana Commission for Higher Education.
"Teachers and administrators are quick to point out that just putting a calculator or computer in the hands of teachers and students is no answer," said William Frascella, director of the center and co-director of the project. "Without significant training, many feel putting technology in the classroom is just a waste of money.
"Our project responds to the K-12 community's demand for the professional training that will make this technology work to improve student learning and performance in their classrooms," continued Frascella, who is an associate professor of mathematics on IU's South Bend campus. "This call for professional development in the classroom use of technology is becoming the number one priority in most Indiana school corporations."
The grant, funded by the U.S. Department of Education, will provide four one-week summer workshops and follow-up technical assistance and leadership during the academic year.
Co-director James Hersberger, who has conducted many educational technology workshops throughout the state, is convinced that this project will have a positive impact on student learning.
"Graphing calculators are powerful teaching aids in any circumstance and, when used in conjunction with exemplary curricula, can aid students in making connections between numeric, graphic and algebraic representations of data and problem situations," said Hersberger, associate chair of the Department of Mathematical Sciences at IPFW.
The Eisenhower grant allows the IU Center for Mathematics Education to include high school teachers in the work of its Indiana Mathematics Initiative, the center's curriculum-based professional development project established last April for middle school teachers through a $2 million National Science Foundation grant.
The center is a university-wide operation that is based in the office of IU President Myles Brand. It links mathematics, educational and technological resources from IU campuses with the stakeholders in Indiana education, including teachers, administrators, parents and state officials.
For another IU initiative in math education, see: