Premkumar Pugalenthi Doctoral Student, University of North Carolina Charlotte
September 21, 2018
3-4 p.m.
103A Walker Hall
This talk is free and open to the public
In the competitive world, Americas' future scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians must be prepared to remain effective and efficient through re-energized attention to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education. A big challenge in K-12 STEM education is that few general guidelines or models exist for teachers to follow for how to teach using STEM. In this talk, we will explore the initial findings of design research based study that attempts to contribute to the ongoing dialogue regarding the efficacy of genuine STEM integration. Specifically, this research explores the process of design and implementation of a learning trajectory that attempts to integrate mathematics and engineering in an authentic manner to evoke STEM practices more generally.
Our goal is to explore the feasibility of using engineering contexts to teach mathematics and develop a conceptual framework for genuine STEM integration. The research aims to capture the emergence of STEM practices, which is the normative way of using STEM practices to interact with others in the classroom. The research was conducted in a 7th grade mathematics classroom of a STEM middle school in a suburban school district in the Southeast region of United States. The classroom teacher was part of the design team along with faculty specializing in mathematics education, chemistry and engineering of a large urban university. The engineering context involved designing blueprints of a new housing development and building 3D houses. The instructional activities were designed to develop students' understanding of parallel lines as the same distance apart and measuring angles as the degree of turn. The instructional sequences were designed to encourage students to switch back and forth between the engineering context and the mathematics embedded within that context.
Sponsored by the Department of Mathematical Sciences. Please contact Quinn Morris morrisqa@appstate.edu or Travis Weiland weilandtj@appstate.edu or visit our department colloquium website https://mathsci.appstate.edu/activities-outreach/department-colloquia to view more information and see other upcoming events.
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About the Department of Mathematical Sciences
The Department of Mathematical Sciences offers undergraduate degrees in actuarial science and mathematics, with concentrations in business, computation, life sciences, physical sciences, secondary teaching and statistics, plus a general, self-designed concentration. The department also offers the Master of Arts in mathematics, with concentrations in college teaching and secondary teaching. Learn more at https://mathsci.appstate.edu.
Premkumar Pugalenthi Doctoral Student, University of North Carolina Charlotte
Premkumar Pugalenthi Doctoral Student, University of North Carolina Charlotte