MKN Quarterly Volume 1, Issue 3

Math Knowledge Network QUARTERLY 1(3)

Welcome to Volume 1 Issue 3 of the Math Knowledge Network Quarterly!

The first 3 years of the Math Knowledge Network: Impact Report!

We are excited to share the  first 3 years of impact from Communities of Practice: Critical Transitions, Computational Modelling, Indigenous Knowledge & Math Leadership.

Thank you to our 36 partner organizations for their support!

George Gadanidis & Donna Kotsopoulos (MKN co-Directors)

PS – To stay up-to-date on upcoming events, activities, and resources, please visit the MKN website, join our mailing list (see subscription form bottom-right), and follow us on Twitter @mknrcm.

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In this issue

Critical Transitions: 2016 to 2019

Computational Modelling: 2016 to 2019

Indigenous Knowledge: 2016 to 2019

Math Leadership: 2016 to 2019

 

Coding For All – Wellington Catholic DSB Math + Computational Thinking Project

By Jeff Cummings, Wellington Catholic District School Board

Two years ago, the Wellington Catholic District School Board began an exciting and innovative journey with Dr. George Gadanidis in Technology Enabled Learning as we attempted to redefine the classroom experience to include engagement tasks in Computational Thinking.  The focus of our district journey was in Innovation in Grade 3 and 4 classrooms with an emphasis on increasing student engagement. We quickly progressed to developing a vision of a learning journey where students could travel a path in our schools learning Coding embedded in the Math Curriculum.

The work is quickly evolving to address 21st Century competencies with a significant focus on modernizing learning environments to be responsive to student needs, and to emphasize Mathematics tasks that instill a vision of the learner that can achieve a high ceiling if engaged through this dynamic way of modelling and solving Mathematical questions. Learning tasks not only promote Math and Computational Skills but also promote inclusion, and equity.

This year our learning journey continues to evolve as we work to create a path of learning throughout our system where students are exposed to dynamic Mathematical challenges in coding environments. Our first project is an Elementary Leadership Project in Math and Computational Thinking which focuses on expansion of our program by mentoring leader teachers, who are challenged to empower other teachers in our system to integrate coding in Math activities. This year’s project will support four Digital Mentors in developing fluency in modelling effective computational skill through integration with the Math curriculum.  Digital mentors will learn how to utilize strategies to mobilize knowledge and share through a collaborative fashion intensively at school sites and through other professional learning opportunities created with support from Technology Enabled Learning program.

While we were excited with the pathway we were creating for students in this innovative learning strategy, we wanted to provide a unique destination for the end of learning journey to provide students increased opportunities and access to the high priority technological skills of the modern global society. Using a Universal Design for Learning, we developed the Grade 10 Math & Coding Double Credit Program. This program created a learning environment that de-streamed learners and opened the door to all abilities. The focus of the 2017-18 Grade 10 Math & Coding double credit program was to work with teachers to develop innovative ways to identify and deliver big ideas in Grade 10 Mathematics and Computer Science (ICS2O) using engaging Computer Science programs such as Scratch and Python to model mathematical concepts and solve problems. The course took an interdisciplinary approach to instructional design by delivering integrated content to combine expectations and create extra time for students to focus on development of “Passion Projects” where they are challenged to identify a problem that requires a solution using computational science skills. Personal projects are the focus of innovation in this course, creating “Moonshot Ideas” where students can work through a project that they plan, create, research, and solve with the teacher facilitating. A major focus of the project is re-conceptualizing the learning environment to integrate principles of equity, inclusion and empowerment of marginalized learners to engage students with challenging and achievable tasks.

It is our hope that the learning journey will increase student interest in Computer Science courses in Grade 11 and 12 which will provide learners skillsets, unique abilities, and strengths that maximize their potential to be successful in postsecondary education and the workforce.  Wellington Catholic District School Board will continue to find innovative ways to deliver Coding and foster Computational Skills in our students.

This blog was written by Jeff Cummings, ELearning Coordinator at Wellington Catholic DSB, and member of our Computational Thinking Community of Practice


Check out the 2016-2017 Project Overview of the Wellington Catholic DSB’s work in this video!

Follow along with their work on Twitter @Grade10CODING, #WEcode, and @MrJCummings.

NEW Case Study: Concreteness Fading

In 2016, Eastwood Public School, an elementary school in the GECDSB, set out to develop an understanding of how Concreteness Fading could inform planning of tasks, lessons, and units, both within and across grades.

The goal of this inquiry was to look at the question: How is the pedagogical approach of Concreteness Fading applied in the elementary classroom?  Many educators in Ontario expressed interest in this topic and were curious how the whole school inquiry may look.

To see the results of the whole school inquiry on concreteness fading, see the report prepared by our Mathematics Leadership CoP members, Dragana Martinovic (University of Windsor) and Heidi Horn-Olivito (GECDSB).

Want to learn more about our Mathematics Leadership CoP? Visit their page to see their plans, partners, resources, and more.

Kindergarten Forum for Action

Are you a faculty member at an Ontario university or an ECE instructor at an Ontario college interested in Kindergarten math? Join us for the Kindergarten Forum for Action on August 17, 2017 at the University of Guelph Humber!

Our Critical Transitions Community of Practice, in collaboration with the Association of Early Childhood Educators of Ontario (AECEO), is bringing together faculty and instructors who play a key role in the professional education of Kindergarten teaching teams in Ontario.

Faculty and instructors are invited to engage in dialogue, share knowledge, deepen learning, refine practices and connect with colleagues about early math development. The goal of the day will be to prepare a report and a plan for action to improve the mathematics outcomes of Kindergarten children in Ontario.

Visit here for more information and registration details!

 

Find out more about our Critical Transitions in Student Mathematical Development community of practice here.

MKN Video Overview

mkn-video

Want a quick overview of the Math Knowledge Network? Check out this short video!

For more information on our Communities of Practice, outcomes, partners, and events, explore our website, follow us on Twitter @mknrcm, and join our mailing list for regular updates.

Special thanks to KNAER for putting this video together!