Joliet, Ill. – The College of Arts & Sciences at the University of St. Francis (USF) collaborated with the College of Aviation, Science and Technology at Lewis University on an education summit featuring a panel of experts on mathematics education and curriculum across K-12 and higher education. The summit, which welcomed math educators from the region, took place on Wednesday, September 18, in USF’s Turk Theater.
The summit served as an opportunity to enhance the connections between college and K-12 math education and explored a topic of upmost importance to area educators: math preparedness.
Several key takeaways resulted from the event, including: understanding the importance of helping the students see patterns on paper; helping students understand that making mistakes, maintaining a growth mindset and social emotional learning are critical components of the skill-building process; cultivating positive teacher-student relationships can enhance how students view and value higher education; recognizing that external needs of students (hunger, caregiving, home life, mental health, etc.) can affect educational experiences, and; supporting and promoting professional development opportunities such as Southwest Chicago Math Teachers’ Circle (SWMTC) is beneficial to mathematics educators. University faculty were also invited to observe K-12 teachers’ math classes to better understand the disconnect between K-12 and collegiate math preparedness and how university-level courses might be reimagined to help bridge the educational gap.
Summit panelists, which included USF and Lewis faculty as well as experts in secondary education in math and math curriculum, were:
- Angela Antonou, Ph.D. – Associate Professor of Mathematics (University of St. Francis);
- Erica Kwiatkowski-Egizio, Ph.D. – Associate Professor of Secondary, Middle and Foreign Language Education (Lewis University);
- Vicky Lewis – Assistant Professor of Mathematics (University of St. Francis);
- Nicole McMorris, Ed.D. – Curriculum Director for Mathematics (Joliet Township High School District 204) and;
- Michael Rouse – Math Faculty (Thornridge High School) and District 161 Board Member.
Antonou, along with summit organizers Beth McDermott, Ph.D. (Dean, College of Arts and Sciences at USF) and Dr. Chris White, Ph.D. (Dean, College of Aviation, Science and Technology at Lewis) and other event participants, hope to continue this important conversation.
“This summit is the beginning of a much-needed conversation between K-12 and college math teachers, academics, and interested parties to better understand the challenges and needs of students, particularly as it relates to mathematics education. I look forward to continuing this discussion and to identifying actions that can have a positive impact on our local communities,” said Antonou.
For more information on the next summit, which will once again be open to interested K-12 and collegiate mathematics educators, please contact Dr. Beth McDermott at emcdermott@stfrancis.edu.
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The University of St. Francis, in Joliet, Ill., serves close to 3,300 students nationwide and offers undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs in the arts and sciences, business, education, nursing and social work. There are over 53,000 USF alumni across the globe. For information, call 800-735-7500 or visit stfrancis.edu.
University of St. Francis: Bigger thinking. Brighter purpose.
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