Around the College
Teaching the Teachers By Christine Schussler Photo by M.G. Ellis
MIKE MAYS, PhD, professor of mathematics and director of the WVU Institute for Mathematics Learning, has been selected as a partner in the Mathematics Teacher Education Partnership, a collaboration begun by the Science and Mathematics Teacher Imperative of the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities. The Mathematics Teacher Education Partnership (MTE Partnership) is a partnership between institutions of higher education and K-12 schools, districts, and other organizations working collaboratively to redesign secondary mathematics teacher preparation programs. The partnership will provide a coordinated research and development effort for secondary mathematics teacher preparation programs in order to meet the challenges of the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics and to embody research and best practices in the field. The Common Core State Standards provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students in grades K-12 are expected to learn, so teachers and parents know what they need to do to help them. These standards are designed to be relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills that young people need for success in college and careers. West Virginia adopted the Standards in 4
FALL
2012
Eberly College of Arts and Sciences Magazine
June 2011. Currently 51 states and territories have adopted the Standards. “I view this as a critical step needed to solve significant challenges facing our state and nation in the teaching and learning of mathematics,” said College Dean Robert Jones. “In my opinion, the faculty participants have the experience and credentials to build a functional partnership and the University and state partners have sufficient commitment to provide a path to success. The math education aculty in WVU’s Department of Mathematics can provide capable guidance and leadership. Over the past decade, this group has grown in numbers and has been productive in scholarship and teacher preparation. The math education group has examined a variety of models for teacher preparation and math learning; the MTE Partnership will provide a venue for expanding their best practices and testing them.” Mays believes this is an exciting project because the Common Core State Standards are of national scope and importance. West Virginia has been a leader in adopting these standards to guide its Next Generation K-12 mathematics content. Mays stated, “The Partnership will make sure that the new secondary mathematics
teachers we prepare have opportunities to engage with the Standards, especially the eight Standards for Mathematical Practice, throughout their programs, by seeing the Standards in use throughout their mathematics and mathematics education courses.” Mays will participate in the cooperative redesign of secondary mathematics teacher preparation (SMTP) programs to ensure teachers can effectively teach the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, including building consensus on underlying guiding principles and developing a collaborative research and development agenda for catalyzing the transformation of SMTP programs nationally. He and his partners will assist in encouraging the use of model programs and practices created by the partnership within the Science and Mathematics Teacher Imperative and other institutions, and promoting changes in states’ program approval, accreditation, and other policies necessary to support the changes. Learn more about Common Core Standards and how they affect your school and your child’s education. www.corestandards.org/frequentlyasked-questions.