Explorations in Modeling & Visualization in Mathematics and Science:Before and After Student-Teaching

Office for Mathematics, Science,and Technology Education

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaignhttp://www.mste.uiuc.edu

The UIUC Ed Grid Team Project is under the direction of MSTE

With the support of the following:

MSTE Websitehttp://www.mste.uiuc.edu/

The nexus for MSTE activities is its website. There, one can find information about MSTE activities and internet resources that promote exploration, modeling, and visualization in mathematics and science. Currently, the site receives over one million hits per month.

Java Applets for Visualizing MathematicsOne resource provided by the MSTE website are java applets

that prompt exploration of various mathematics concepts. These applets can be found at:http://www.mste.uiuc.edu/java/

Screenshots of Other Sample Java Applets

The MSTE Ed Grid Team:

Principal Investigators: Kenneth J. Travers Delwyn L. Harnisch

Faculty in Mathematics Education: Bridget A. Arvold Rochelle GutiérrezTimothy M. Hendrix

Faculty in Science Education:Fouad Abd-El-KhalickDavid E. Brown

The MSTE Ed Grid Team (cont.):

The MSTE Ed Grid Team (cont.):Research Assistants: Lucas G. Allen George C. Reese Akihiko Takahashi Brad Thompson Noemi Waight

Technical Support Staff: Tammy D. Brandt Kristen A. Carvell Nicholas D. Exner Michael L. McKelvey

Context of the Teacher Education Program

at theUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Pre-service teachers all complete a full major in their content areas in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

The professional preparation of pre-service teachers, housed in the College of Education, involves coursework and field experiences completed over a two-year period, usually the 3rd and 4th years for undergraduates.

The students all move through the teacher education program in content-based cohorts.

Year 1 Year 2Secondary Mathematics 28 15Secondary Science 32 22General Elementary approx. 150 approx. 130

Note: Approximately 1/3 of the graduating pre-service elementary teachers chose mathematics as their field of

concentration

In the 2000-2001 Academic year, the program served the following numbers of students:

Description of the UIUC Teacher Education Programs in Mathematics

and Science The secondary mathematics and science education programs

are built around a sequence of 4 content-based courses: Course 1—Introduction to Teaching in a Diverse Society Course 2—Teaching Diverse Middle Grade Students Course 3—Teaching Diverse Senior High School Students Course 4—Teaching and Assessing Secondary School Students Across all content areas, the following areas of emphasis are

integrated in each course and throughout the entire program: Diversity and Equity Technology Assessment Special Needs Legal and Professional Issues

An Intentional Recursive Pattern in Mathematics and Science Pre-Service

Teacher EducationImmersion

(e.g., in content-based activities that promote

modeling and visualization) Reflection

(of how content knowledge and understanding influence pedagogical understanding)

Synthesis

(of theory and practice as a novice teacher exiting the

teacher education program)