Solving For x :What’s Missing in the Math Teacher Collaboration Equation?
Rebecca Oxley
@LibrariansFTW
Mega Subramaniam
@mmsubram
Ann EdwardsMinjung
RyuImage Credit: “Studying…” by shonk via Flickr http://bit.ly/ORyH90
Who’s With Us?Who’s done Cooperation or Coordination
with Math Teachers?
How about Collaboration?
Who would like to make Collaboration happen with Math Teachers?
Family people silhouettes by Scorpio via Vecteezy
Barriers to Tech Integration in Math
AccessPD NeededCurriculum &
PedagogyRelevant to
Math?
School Librarians: Key Change Agents
Tech LeadersTeacher of
multiple literacies
Open to CollaborationCollaboration?
What Adds Up?Looking for x :
SCHOOL A
School Librarian:• 6 years in the school• Education: BS in Education, MLS in Library
Science, some doctoral work
Principal:• 4 years in the school• Knowledge of what LMS does: Yes!• Knowledge of what math team does:
Yes!
What’s Happening:• LMS is a bridge between subjects, managing
web site content, develop projects that utilize math knowledge, works with Math RT
• Cooperation & Coordination
SCHOOL B
School Librarian:• 2 years in the school• Education: Elementary & Secondary Education
degree, Masters in Education Technology
Principal:• 1 year in the school• Knowledge of what LMS does: Kind of..• Knowledge of what math team does: Kind of..
What’s Happening:• LMS provides PD on the use of online
resources, is a tech guru • Cooperation
SCHOOL C
School Librarian:• 1 year in the school• Education: Early Childhood and Elementary degree,
Masters in School Library Media
Principal:• 6 years in the school• Knowledge of what LMS does: None!• Knowledge of what math team does:
None!
What’s Happening:• Search for online resources • Cooperation
SCHOOL D
School Librarian:• 6 years in the school• Education: Engineering degree, Masters in School
Library Media
Principal:• 1 year in the school• Knowledge of what LMS does: Yes!• Knowledge of what math team does: Kind of..
What’s Happening:• LMS finds ways to apply math knowledge in
other content areas, participates in math tutoring in the library
• Cooperation & Coordination
So what does this mean?
Image Source: iStock
Collaboration Obstacles
“I don’t know math well”
“I’m not able to make tech purchasing decisions”
“The math teachers are too busy to co-plan”
“Math teachers have their own tech”
“We don’t really have math books”
X = Perspectives and Communication
“Math teachers are under a lot of pressure and don’t have room in the curriculum”“I don’t
know how to help”
Collaboration Obstacles
“We’ve never tried that” “I already
get the PD I need”“I find my own resources”
“The librarian is so busy”
“Tech gets in the way”
“I don’t think the librarian really knows math”
X = Perspectives and Communication
“There’s no way I can fit anything else into my curriculum”
“I don’t need help in my class”
X = Finding Fertile Ground
Cooperation Getting into Common Core Hand-picking digital resources
& mediaCoordination Authentic math learning
through tech Embedding math into other
content areasCollaboration Picking out PD Co-planning the perfect “fit”
X = Finding Fertile Ground
Curriculum Approaches Seeing broadly – getting
beyond drills and skills Authentic Learning -
focusing on inquiry and finding math in everyday life
Support, Support, Support Empowering the LMS –
confidence is key Bridging the gap – school and
district leaders as connecting agents
What innovations have YOU seen?
Image Source: http://bit.ly/OmrUmg
Mega Subramaniam – Associate Director & Assistant Professor, Information Policy & Access Center, College of Information Studies, University of Maryland
[email protected]@mmsubram
Ann Edwards – Assistant Professor, Department of Teaching and
Learning, Policy and Leadership, Center for Mathematics Education, College of Education,
University of [email protected]
@ajedwards
Rebecca Oxley – Graduate Research Associate, Information Policy & Access Center, College of Information Studies, University of Maryland [email protected]@LibrariansFTW
Minjung Ryu – Doctoral Candidate, Center for Mathematics Education,
College of Education, University of Maryland
Any Questions?
This research was funder by a generous grant from:CENTER for
MATHEMATICS
EDUCATION