RAJEE AMARASINGHE CSU FRESNO Institutionalization Changes in Policy and Practice Among Partners

Through the Eyes of Institute of Higher Education Background Changes within the IHE Faculty and Teacher Collaborations Other significant impacts

BACKGROUND

Background Central Valley Math and Science partnership Fresno Unified School District ( ) 120 teachers Central Valley Math Project Sanger Unified SD & Kings Canyon Unified SD ( ) 75 teachers Teaching and Learning Collaborative Central Unified School District ( ) 50 teachers

Background… Central Valley Mathematics Research project Sanger Unified SD & Kings Canyon Unified ( ) 40 teachers Washington Union mathematics Consortium Washington Unified school district ( ) 50 teachers Fresno Mathematics Academy Fresno Unified School District ( ) 100 teachers Central Unified E 2 partnership Central Unified School District ( ) 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 Amarasinghe Department of Mathematics California State University, Fresno