Grant Winner

Teacher transforms mathematics classroom with new project

Benjamin Grantonic grantben000@hsestudents.org

In 2001 the Hamilton Southeastern Education Foundation (HSEF) was started to “benefit every student, every grade, every school, within HSE Schools.” HSEF operates as a grant foundation, giving grants to students and staff, as well as giving out scholarships. Over its existence the HSEF has given out $1.5 million in grants and scholarships since it began. One of these recipients was math teacher Matthew Poisel, who was awarded it in November 2021. “It's kind of a project where students are going to sort of explore their passions or things they are interested in, and then make short little videos that sort of show off their passions, show off their interest but also focus on the math behind it.” Poisel said. HSEF grants are given to help improve or start new and innovative methods of teaching. The grant money goes to help purchase new equipment or tools to help in those classrooms. “The (HSEF) grant funded some audio visual technology, so we were able to buy a couple microphones, selfie lights or whatever you want to call it, and then a drone, and also a GoPro,” Poisel said. These new pieces of technology are to be used by students directly during the completion of this project, with students getting hands-on experience with them. “I think the grant allows students an innovative way to show connections to math rather than just solving traditional story problems,” Poisel said. “I know most students have cell phones that can take pretty good video, but the addition of the drone or the GoPro footage can definitely allow students to produce something that is outside of what they have usually done.” Poisel’s new project is foremost for the students that he teaches. Already, the project is in its beginning stages so far this year. “Students have sort of thought about some ideas,” Poisel said. “We are going to break up into groups starting second semester and spend a whole lot more time exploring and putting together ideas for what those videos might look like and then making them and producing them second semester.” The inspiration for this new form of project came to Poisel after applying for and winning the Lilly Endowment Teacher Creativity Fellowship grant previously. The Lilly Endowment is one of the largest private philanthropic organizations. "I myself sort of wrote that grant and talked about trying to relate my interests and making some short videos to show to students to help relate math to some of the things I’m interested in,” Poisel said. “That's kind of what spring boarded this project.” The goal of both the short videos that Poisel has made and the videos that his students will be making is to work to help engrain some mathematical ideas into them. "I hope it at least sticks in student’s minds, you know students have tons and tons of different interests but sometimes we don’t think of the math involved in it but I think it's cool to think of the interest we do have and realize there is math behind it and make that connection,” Poisel said. “It’s a really powerful tool.”

Matt Poisel stands with his grant. Photo used with permission of Matt Poisel.