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

mmsubram@umd.edu@mmsubram

Ann Edwards – Assistant Professor, Department of Teaching and

Learning, Policy and Leadership, Center for Mathematics Education, College of Education,

University of Marylandaedwards@umd.edu

@ajedwards

Rebecca Oxley – Graduate Research Associate, Information Policy & Access Center, College of Information Studies, University of Maryland roxley47@umd.edu@LibrariansFTW

Minjung Ryu – Doctoral Candidate, Center for Mathematics Education,

College of Education, University of Maryland

mryu@umd.edu

Any Questions?

This research was funder by a generous grant from:CENTER for

MATHEMATICS

EDUCATION