Dr. Frances K. Harper, Assistant Professor of STEM Education at the University of Tennessee
March 22, 2019
3-4pm
103A Walker Hall
This talk is free and open to the campus and community.
When faced with the challenge of supporting students to do the “messy” mathematical work necessary for exploring social justice problems through critical mathematical inquiry, teachers might rely on more procedural or direct instruction. Because how teachers teach matters as much as what they teach, this can inadvertently limit students’ engagement with mathematics. In this talk, Dr. Frances K. Harper will discuss how instructional strategies designed to foster equitable collaborative can support critical mathematical inquiry by promoting norms for equitable student engagement and mathematics identity development. As teachers and students negotiate what counts as mathematics engagement and who has access to mathematics, students’ authority over mathematics and social justice issues increases.
Harper is an assistant professor of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Her research broadly focuses on issues of equity and social justice in mathematics education and teacher education, particularly within urban contexts. She strives to understand students’ experiences with equitable teaching practices, such as complex instruction and mathematics for social justice. As a practitioner-researcher, she works to refine her own teaching of prospective and practicing teachers to encourage more nuanced understanding of equity and social justice issues in mathematics. Frances earned her PhD in mathematics education at Michigan State University (2017) and two master’s degrees related to mathematics education, one at Harvard University in Mathematics for Teaching (2011) and the second at Stanford University in Curriculum and Teacher Education (2012).
Sponsored by the Department of Mathematical Sciences. Please contact Quinn Morris morrisqa@appstate.edu or Travis Weiland weilandtj@appstate.edu or visit the 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.
Mathematical Sciences graphic
Mathematical Sciences graphic