WHAT
- A research-based study designed to bring new life and sophistication to the high-school mathematics curriculum. This study is part of the KNAER Math Knowledge Network (MKN)
- Three phases for each project:
- curriculum development: work with students and teachers informally or in the classroom.
- resource development for teacher and student.
- research: document the teaching activity and the student experience.
- The projects are based on the technical material in the Ontario 9-12 curriculum. Considerable attention is paid to the “process” objectives found in the Ontario policy document: mathematical thinking, reasoning, teamwork, communication. Our general approach is inquiry-based, with an emphasis on the analysis and understanding of mathematical structure.
WHO
- by Peter Taylor, Queen’s University
Collaborators
- Ami Mamolo, UOIT
- Kariane Ouelette, Queen’s University
- Divya LaLa, Queen’s University
- Stefanie Knebel, Queen’s University
WHERE
WHY
- To create a high school math curriculum from ideas and processes that are more sophisticated than those currently “on the books.”
- To find problems that engage the students in processes of design and construction.
- To find teachers who are interested in workshopping these materials in their classroom.
OUTCOMES
- July 2016. Math10 summer camp. Queen’s University 1 week
- Classroom projects in two local high schools. Research by Graduate students.
- Nov 2016. Transformations. Grade 11 KCVI 3 weeks
- May 2017. Transformations. Grade 10 KCVI 2 weeks
- June 2017. Jacqueline and Trains. Grade 12 Regiopolis Notre Dame 2 days
- August 2017. Teacher workshops in Kingston, Ottawa and Toronto.
DISSEMINATION
- Council of Canadian Academies, 2015. Some Assembly Required: STEM Skills and Canada’s Economic Productivity. Ottawa (ON): The Expert Panel on STEM Skills for the Future.
- Taylor P, Lala D, Ouellet K and Knebel S. 2016. A Secondary Math Curriculum Built from Powerful Stories. CMS Winter Meeting, Niagara Falls, ON.
- Taylor, P. 2016. Transformations10—a new grade 10 curriculum. OAME 2016, Barrie ON.
- Taylor P, Lala D, Ouellet K and Knebel S. 2017. Math9-12–Powerful stories in school mathematics. OAME 2017, Kingston ON
- Structure—an allegory. Peter Taylor and Judy Wearing. A dramatic production. Performed at the 40th anniversary meeting of CMESG (the Canadian Math Education Study Group) at the Isabel Theatre at Queen’s University, June 2016.
- Performed again at Bridges 2017 Waterloo University, July 2017.
NEXT STEPS
- Publication of book chapter for Springer (currently in progress)
- More work in schools in Ontario, particularly in Fall 2017.
- Preparation of major article on the philosophy behind the approach.
