The TCNJ School of Education and the Department of Math & Statistics are offering a workshop for Mathematics Teachers as part of the Scholars Engagement Seminar series. A summary is below. For complete details please visit: Scholars Engagement Seminars
Fostering a Passion for Mathematics – April 27, 2023
I am fortunate to have grown up in Hungary that has a long tradition of superb Mathematics Education. My Mathematics teachers fostered my interest and enjoyment of the subject by making me see Mathematics as something people do instead of a set of skills that people possess. My teachers’ recipe was simple: the more I enjoy doing Mathematics, the more I will succeed. My main goal is to share strategies, best practices and resources that will help you increase your students’ intrinsic motivation to engage with Mathematics. I will also present some recent research on the importance of fostering students’ interest and enjoyment of doing Mathematics.
Seminar Leader: Judit Karlos, PhD
Judit is an assistant professor of mathematics. She received her BA in mathematics and MS in philosophy from Eötvös University in Budapest, followed by a PhD in mathematics with a focus on Real Analysis. Her research interests as a teacher are related to teaching and learning mathematics using the Inquiry Based Learning method. Most recently, she was a panelist on IBL at Mathfest in 2019 and she presented a paper on using IBL in the Real Analysis classroom at the National IBL Conference in Denver.
Future workshops to be scheduled:
Student – Centered Learning in Mathematics
Description: What does student-centered learning in mathematics look like? This workshop will seek to answer this question with examples at the high school level. Problem-based lessons at these grade levels will be discussed and resources will be provided. Grade levels: high school mathematics
Learning outcomes:
- Participants will be able to use student-centered methods in their mathematics classroom.
- Participants will be able to write a problem-based lesson plan in mathematics.
- Participants will be able to find resources for creating problem-based lessons.
- Participants will be able to adapt lessons to make them more student-centered.
New Jersey Learning Standards calls for teachers to use instructional methods so that students use the Standards for Mathematical Practice in whatever content they are learning. Student-centered learning methods allow for and in fact require these practices (problem solving, reasoning, explaining, modeling, etc.).
Led by Dr. Cathy S. Liebars Associate Chair of the Mathematics and Statistics Department and the Mathematics Education Coordinator at TCNJ. She teaches courses for pre-service teachers at all levels in the content area of mathematics. Dr. Liebars has presented workshops in several school districts in New Jersey on a variety of topics. She has worked with middle grades and elementary teachers, assisting in their implementation of reform-based mathematics programs like the Connected Math Program (CMP) and TERC Investigations in Number, Data, and Space. She is currently co-director of the Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship induction grant at TCNJ. Dr. Liebars is a Past-President of the New Jersey Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators (NJAMTE), currently serves on their Executive Board, and is former chair of the New Jersey section of the Mathematical Association of America.
Using algebra tiles and other manipulatives to teach algebraic concepts
Overview of Session Content:
Participants will learn how to use algebra tiles to model concepts such as integer operations, arithmetic on polynomials, factoring of polynomials, and solving equations, with connections to other topics. We will discuss reasons for using manipulatives or other concrete materials to teach fundamental algebraic concepts. There will be discussion and hands-on participation throughout the workshop.
Grade levels: middle school or high school
Length: 2 hours
Learning objectives for participants:
- Participants will learn how to use algebra tiles to help students understand fundamental algebraic concepts such as factoring.
- Participants will be aware of technological resources and various manipulatives that are available to teach algebra.
Led by Dr. Cathy S. Liebars Associate Chair of the Mathematics and Statistics Department and the Mathematics Education Coordinator at TCNJ. She teaches courses for pre-service teachers at all levels in the content area of mathematics. Dr. Liebars has presented workshops in several school districts in New Jersey on a variety of topics. She has worked with middle grades and elementary teachers, assisting in their implementation of reform-based mathematics programs like the Connected Math Program (CMP) and TERC Investigations in Number, Data, and Space. She is currently co-director of the Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship induction grant at TCNJ. Dr. Liebars is a Past-President of the New Jersey Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators (NJAMTE), currently serves on their Executive Board, and is former chair of the New Jersey section of the Mathematical Association of America.