Development of a Math Laboratory at the Professional Development School
RESEARCH PROJECT PROPOSAL
TITLE OF THE PROJECT: DEVELOPMENT OF A MATH LABORATORY AT THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SCHOOL
Presented to the Faculty Development Committee
Dr. Sheila Mehigan
Assistant Professor of Education
March 11, 2002
RESEARCH PROJECT PROPOSAL
TITLE OF THE PROJECT: DEVELOPMENT OF A MATH LABORATORY AT THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SCHOOL {PDS}
PROJECT SUMMARY This project is being developed for the purpose of funding a math laboratory to be set up during the 2002-2003 school year where preservice (college students) will work with at-risk K-5 students at the Professional Development School (PDS) at Jackson Elementary School. Professional Developments Schools (PDS) are public school settings in which a school district and a college/university partner to provide on-site educational courses and field experiences for preservice (college students) teachers that are integrated with on-going professional development for inservice (certified) teachers. The math lab at the school will benefit mathematics education because of it two-fold purpose. The first being a change in self-efficacy towards math for the at risk K-5students and the preservice teachers and the second an improvement in mathematics communication for both groups. Working in conjunction with at-risk K-5 students, these preservice teachers will have many rich opportunities to grow in the areas specified by the NCTM math communications standard. Through these opportunities they will “organize and consolidate their mathematical thinking, communicate their mathematical thinking coherently and clearly to peers, teachers and others, analyze and evaluate the mathematical thinking and strategies of others, and use the language of mathematics to express mathematical ideas precisely.” (NCTM, 2000) An additional benefit to this project would be that the teachers at the school would be able to see firsthand the results of working with the students in the math exploratory lab. They will be able
TITLE OF THE PROJECT: DEVELOPMENT OF A MATH LABORATORY AT THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SCHOOL
Presented to the Faculty Development Committee
Dr. Sheila Mehigan
Assistant Professor of Education
March 11, 2002
RESEARCH PROJECT PROPOSAL
TITLE OF THE PROJECT: DEVELOPMENT OF A MATH LABORATORY AT THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SCHOOL {PDS}
PROJECT SUMMARY This project is being developed for the purpose of funding a math laboratory to be set up during the 2002-2003 school year where preservice (college students) will work with at-risk K-5 students at the Professional Development School (PDS) at Jackson Elementary School. Professional Developments Schools (PDS) are public school settings in which a school district and a college/university partner to provide on-site educational courses and field experiences for preservice (college students) teachers that are integrated with on-going professional development for inservice (certified) teachers. The math lab at the school will benefit mathematics education because of it two-fold purpose. The first being a change in self-efficacy towards math for the at risk K-5students and the preservice teachers and the second an improvement in mathematics communication for both groups. Working in conjunction with at-risk K-5 students, these preservice teachers will have many rich opportunities to grow in the areas specified by the NCTM math communications standard. Through these opportunities they will “organize and consolidate their mathematical thinking, communicate their mathematical thinking coherently and clearly to peers, teachers and others, analyze and evaluate the mathematical thinking and strategies of others, and use the language of mathematics to express mathematical ideas precisely.” (NCTM, 2000) An additional benefit to this project would be that the teachers at the school would be able to see firsthand the results of working with the students in the math exploratory lab. They will be able