NSF Awards: 1649342
2017 (see original presentation & discussion)
Grades K-6, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Undergraduate, Informal / multi-age
Drawing from almost three decades of math literacy work and related research, the Algebra Project, Young People's Project and Southern Initiative Algebra Project, together with collaborating organizations, institutions and individuals are coming together through the NSF INCLUDES DDLP opportunity to develop a national Alliance focused on providing a quality public school education for all students, with a particular focus on students performing in the bottom quartile on standardized exams in mathematics. We are engaging a "bottom up" organizing approach which aims to build a national Alliance capable of moving the needle on this challenge facing the country. More than 120 students, teachers, school and district leaders, university faculty and leaders, representatives from educational organizations as well as parents and community members are convening February 17th-19th, 2017 for a national design meeting to gather best practices in our networks, understanding of what we need to do and what is missing, in relation to what to teach, how to teach it, what and how to asses what is taught and learned in mathematics for students in the bottom quartile. This meeting will generate ideas and identify needed features - with the voices of students and teachers in the center as those most directly impacted by the problem - for a strategic plan and blueprint for the creation of a national INCLUDES Alliance, which will be crystalized in the spring and summer.
Marcus Hung
Math Teacher and Filmmaker
Thank you for checking out the work of our emerging alliance. As we head into another important gathering in St. Louis this coming weekend May 19-21, 2017 we'd welcome any feedback, input, questions, suggestions, or anything else to consider that is important to building math literacy for all students--especially those in the bottom-quartile. Thanks!
Kristina Lux
Joni Falk
Very much enjoyed watching this video which well articulates the problem that you are trying to solve. Made me interested in hearing more about particular programs and strategies that have been successful/ Would love to hear if you are focusing on middle - high school, or high school-college? Heard mention of the importance of bringing communities and schools together. Can you talk more about how you have done this successfully? I know the algebra project has been around for a long time. How do you go about measuring your success? I see in the video that you are spreading the word to others in professional development conferences like the one shown in the video. Such important work! Tell me more details.
Marcus Hung
Math Teacher and Filmmaker
Thanks Joni! We are focusing on the bottom-quartile of students at all levels from K-16. There have been years of work done on all levels even in the elementary age and the collective efforts that this emerging alliance represents will focus in on working on local "ground games" that are happening throughout the country. These ground games are going to be the measure of our success. Stay tuned for more info as the network of students, teachers, school leaders, community organizers, and other collaborators are gathering to continue this important work this upcoming weekend!
Marcelo Worsley
Assistant Professor
I'd love to hear some preliminary insights that were gathered from the February meeting. What sort of unexpected ideas were brought forth by the student and teacher community? Can you say more about how you structured the meeting. How did you frame the event such that everyone felt like a valuable contributor?
Stacy Wenzel
Marcus Hung
Math Teacher and Filmmaker
There were many important connections made during the February meeting but most of all were the emerging "ground games" that are sprouting up throughout the country where different stakeholders are mobilizing the work in their own settings and working to build math literacy for all. The meetings are structured with a "bottom-up" approach where we have different spaces for different stakeholders to voice their needs/solutions. We come together to hear from the various voice groups. In addition, we also will be sharing out the various ground games to the larger group at the May meeting.
Kristina Lux
Kristina Lux
Marcus will you be sharing the findings of your May meeting? I am very interested in hearing more about your program/success
Vivian Guilfoy
Joining stakeholders together to share ideas and discuss strategies for math inclusion is critical--especially when content springs from students and teachers. I applaud your work and would like to know more about how you are going to communicate what you discover to broader audiences as the work of the coalition emerges. Have you envisioned the best ways to spotlight what you already know (e.g. problems that capture the attention of students and different pathways to solving them)?
Marcus Hung
Math Teacher and Filmmaker
Thanks Vivian! Yes we are committed to ongoing dissemination of what we have learned and what we are working on. Through our various ground games and folks involved in this work in different facets around the country, we are relying on a truly bottom-up approach where those who have the most to lose are going to be the voices and perspectives that we hear from. With that said, creating/sustaining such an alliance would provide the backbone and overall structure for such spotlights to take shape. Stay tuned for more-- especially after this weekend's meeting!
Michael Lach
Director of STEM Policy and Strategic Initiatives
How cool! Bob Moses has been a hero of mine for so long, and I love the work that the YPP people do. (I think I caught a glimpse of other colleagues in this video, too!) Curious where you all see the greatest resistance to this work coming from--the system, from schools/IHEs, from other places. I'd also like to piggyback on Marcelo's questions and learn more about the dissemination efforts--that sounds critical.
Marcus Hung
Math Teacher and Filmmaker
Thank you Michael! We agree that dissemination and broadening the participation into this work is very critical to creating a national scale of change when it comes to building math literacy for all. Again, our approach will rely heavily on the emerging ground games that have to take place all throughout the country and at the same time having a backbone structure that allows for these activities/efforts to be more broadly seen and shared so that other communities can also work to create their own ground games.
Rachel Levy
I hope we can make some connections between the IMMERSION Project http://stemforall2017.videohall.com/presentatio... and your Math Literacy project. Out project teaches elementary school teachers to engage their students in mathematical modeling. The tasks are often community and school-based -- often generated by questions students raise. I think we have common goals and would benefit from exchanging ideas about how to reach them. Thanks!
Marcus Hung
Math Teacher and Filmmaker
Great thanks for sharing Rachel!
Lauren Amos
Associate Director
Bob Moses never fails to impress! Oh, to be a fly on the wall at a national design meeting! I'd love to learn more about how you've planned and structured these gatherings. Convening so many stakeholders with the goal of generating actionable ideas for students with the greatest need is no easy feat. I can imagine your approach could be a great model for other alliances should you choose to "bottle" it!
Marcus Hung
Math Teacher and Filmmaker
The meetings have been planned and structured by the various groups themselves and the facilitators have weekly meetings to help organize the goals/needs/activities of each group. There is quite a lot of planning that goes into convening over 140 people from all across the country! Be on the lookout for more about the next steps from this emerging alliance!
Lauren Amos
Kathy Perkins
Great to learn about your project. I wonder if we may connect? One goal for the new tools we are building to engage and support all students in learning math, http://stemforall2017.videohall.com/presentatio... ... We'd love to have additional feedback and input.
Marcus Hung
Math Teacher and Filmmaker
Absolutely! Please reach out to the Algebra Project (www.algebra.org) or Young People's Project (www.typp.org) to connect. Thanks Kathy!
Further posting is closed as the event has ended.