Math Training and Curriculum Development in Support of

21st Century Mathematics Learning

Rationale: MICDS is moving into a 1:1 environment that will require the development of
a sustainable, forward-thinking curriculum. The math department is embracing the
concept of math research and project based learning and is determining how to move
forward in an environment that is 1:1 and affords additional opportunities for teaching
and learning. This proposal is to provide a training and curriculum development program
of 50 hours for all math faculty to better prepare us for a implementing a successful 1:1
mathematics environment.

Primary Participants – Will Hansen, Alan Begrowicz, John Pais, Elizabeth Helfant
Secondary Participants – Josh Smith, Chris Muskopf, Paul Reinki, Bill Werremeyer, Joan
Llufrio, Veena Krishnan,

Objectives:
1. Articulate what our philosophy should be in light of our own experiences as
educators and recent learning initiatives (Best Practices, Classroom Instruction
that Works, Four Domains, Brain research) and the institutional move to a 1:1
environment.
2. Acquire deeper knowledge about a variety of software applications that can be
utilized to deepen students understandings of math and diversify our methods of
teaching so we are better able to help our students learn
3. Expose ourselves to external experts and how they approach a 21st century math
curriculum
4. Provide time to revise curriculum to align with philosophy of the math
department, 21st century skills and 1:1 environment
5. Develop student projects and daily activities that utilize software applications
learned, include skills set forth in the Library and Instructional Technology
Mission Statement, and leverage the power of a 1:1 learning environment

Events
Internal Conversations
June 2 – Framing the Summer- Will Hansen (2hrs)
• What is our philosophy of teaching Mathematics and how has it or should it
change in light of 1:1 and our 21st century learners?
• What content should change? (process – form a conjecture and test it; explore and
find similarities – how can technology facilitate this- emphasis on testing it )
• What things do we want students to get from our math curriculum – skills,
experiences, content,general problem solving techniques and attitudes that are not
math specific?
• How can we teach students to transfer skills and concepts?
• How can we use projects to encourage learning, risk-taking, communication (in a
variety of representational modes) and skill acquisition?
• How do we assess process?
• How do we align/sequence with science?
 • How do we lessen the "evaporation" of learned knowledge and skills from one
year to the next
• Math is everywhere. How do we make it real and accessible and alive for kids?
June 3-Sharing our Expertise – Al Begrowicz (2 hours)
Let’s share and discuss what we have in place that we can develop.
• What research projects did we do this year?
• What worked in those projects?
• What did we learn from them?
• What Rubrics were effective?
• How have we used formative assessment?

Training Sessions
June 10, 11, 12 (half days – 9-11:45 – 8 hours)
Stella – Pat Woessner and Speaker TBD
Stella is a mathematics modeling software application that has merit for mathematics
education. It has been use sparingly in Upper School but could become an integral part of
math and science research. We will use 3 half days to examine Stella and develop some
curriculum that utilizes Stella and supports the 1:1 environment.

June 17 (4 hours 8:30-12:30)

Fathom – Alan Begrowicz
Fathom is mathematics software that allows for the analysis of datasets. We will explore
the basic use of the tool and will

June 24 (4 hours 8:30-12:30)

Lab Quest, STEM, and World Materials Modules – Elizabeth Helfant and Al Begrowicz

July 7 (full day – 6 hrs + lunch)

Web 2.0 and the 21st Century Learner
Speaker – Darren Karapatwa (Speaker stipend needs to come from Professional
development fund or math department)
Darren Karapatwa has established himself as a premier user of technology in the math
classroom. He makes extensive use of blogs and web 2.0 tools while exposing his
students to real world scenarios and requiring that they reflect on their use of
mathematics. His blog can be seen here: http://adifference.blogspot.com/ and his class
blog can be seen here-http://apcalc07.blogspot.com/

July 17 – Maple –John Pais

Maple is visualization software that can help students “see” math processes. It is also
useful for exposing students to some introductory programming skills. It does have a
learning curve associated with it. It is software that students who continue on in
mathematics will definitely have to work with.

July 24 (full day – 6 hrs + lunch)

Webassign and 21st Century Assessment– Elizabeth Helfant and Aaron Titus
WebAssign will be our online assessment tool and with each student now having a
machine in class, we should be able to leverage it more.

July 29 (3 hrs + lunch)

Final Meeting – Sharing and Planning – Will Hansen
We will meet to discuss what we have learned and how we can sustain it when school
starts. We will explore options for supporting each other with technology and curriculum
revision.

Independent work – Each major topic will conclude with a homework assignment that
should require an hour of work. The stipend includes 40 hours of face time and 5 hours of
independent work to ensure follow up on each topic.

Outcomes:
Each teacher will examine, discuss, and reflect on what good math teaching is for today’s
students.
Each teacher will increase her/his skill set with technology tools available to facilitate
mathematics teaching so that they are better prepared for the 1:1 environment.
Each grade level will identify possible projects and align them with a departmental scope
and sequence so students can create a math portfolio demonstrating project based
learning.
The Math Department will examine it mission and begin to identify a new set of
collective goals.

Budget
Budget will need to be reduced or supplemented with other sources.
Total budget is below.

Participant Stipends
Primary Participants (3)- $975 stipend = $2925
Secondary Participants (6)- $700 = $4200
(45 hours of training at the Orthwein rate of $15.75 = $620 for secondary partiipants)
(45 hrs training + 15 hours preparation of training materials for primary participants =
$975)
Total Stipends - $7125

Lunch on 3days $375

Speakers –
Darren K- $1500+ expenses
Stella instructor - $2000
Webassign instructor _ $1500
Note: Need external funding (professional development or Thomas grant or need to use
math or CIT budget funds. Elizabeth Helfant is submitting a Thomas Grant for 1:1
external training and will simultaneously submit to Professional development committee.
Equipment
There are equipment needs but these will be met from the math budget and sessions have
been placed to allow a July order for the needed equipment.