TGC Quarterly FALL 2016

TEXAS TEXAS GRADUATE GRADUATE CENTER CENTER Quarterly

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Quarterly

Awarded for Excellence

FALL 2016

TEXAS

GRADUATE

CENTER

About Us: The Texas Graduate Center (TGC), a component of the Texas Valley Communities Foundation, was established to support programs in higher education to help guide new and emerging leaders in education. Our goal is to implement transformational change that will impact schools and communities. TGC offers distance learning graduate programs from outstanding universities in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. The TGC makes available the latest telepresence technology and virtual classrooms with direct connection to worldclass undergraduate and graduate programs from across the country. TGC also serves as a college and career readiness facilitator offering assistance in selecting, preparing and enrolling in nationally recognized graduate programs.

Quarterly

President Dr. Roland Arriola Executive Director Dr. Mary Alice Reyes Associate Director/ EDITOR Adriana V. Lopez Designer/ PHOTOGRAPHER David Alvarado TGC OFFICES 1098 W. Expressway 83 Mercedes, Texas 78570

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In this issue AWARDED FOR EXCELLENCE

The award recognizes our MATHTEACH Collaborative partnership with Harvard University Extension School, Harvard’s engagement in the South​​​​Texas Region.

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The Global Math Project

It’s time for a shift in the way the world learns mathematics.

Seven math enthusiasts from The Global Math Project are looking to change the way math is taught in classrooms around the world by creating a global community engaged in joyful mathematics.

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Fall 2016 Courses

A brief overview of the courses being taken by teachers enrolled in the 2016 Fall semester of the Math for Teaching Graduate Program.

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Professional DEVELOPMENT

Dr. Jon R. Star, Professor of Education at Harvard Graduate School of Education, recently conducted a professional development workshop for local Rio Grande Valley (RGV) math teachers.

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Thank you to our Partners: Harvard University Extension School

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Texas Graduate Center in partnership with

Washington University - St. Louis

COHORT II

Now Class Forming of 2019 • 2 Year Master’s Program in partnership with Washington University - St. Louis • Master of Biology for Teaching Degree • Cohort Learning Model • Online/ Blended Program • Summer Residency at Washington University - St. Louis • Classes Begin Summer 2017 For more information please contact: Adriana Lopez alopez@tvcof.org WWW.TXGRADCENTER.ORG

TGC is a public-private initiative of the Texas Valley Communities Foundation

FALL 2016

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Math Project It’s time for a shift in the way the world learns mathematics.

Seven math enthusiasts from The Global Math Project are looking to change the way math is taught in classrooms around the world by creating a global community engaged in joyful mathematics.

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“It’s a math story that speaks to me. It’s fun and joyous so let math be fun and joyous.”

- JAMES TANTON, PhD. Mathematics

he goal of the Global Math Project (GMP) is to reach and thrill 1 million students, teachers and adults with an engaging piece of mathematics during a special week in October known as Global Math Week 2017. From there, the GMP will share free materials online that will assist educators and students to learn math in a joyful manner.

The first piece, known as Exploding Dots, which can explain place value, school arithmetic, algorithms and algebra, has already been released as a preview.

Exploding Dots was created by James Tanton (PhD. Mathematics, Princeton University), who demonstrated his innovative curriculum to Rio Grande Valley math teachers at Region One Education Service Center as part of the Texas Graduate Center’s 8 | Texas Graduate Center

(TGC) MATHTEACH Collaborative.

James Tanton is a research mathematician deeply interested in bridging the gap between the mathematics experienced by high school students and the creative mathematics practiced and explored by mathematicians. “[Exploding Dots] is a piece of mathematics you can connect K-12 through 16 and beyond,” said Tanton.

“It’s a math story that speaks to me. It’s fun and joyous so let math be fun and joyous.”

Ultimately, The Global Math Project is a collaboration among math professionals from around the world and therefore relies on Ambassadors who support their growing global community. One such ambassador

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is the TGC’s own Queen ClaireMartin, a High School teacher and a dual-enrollment professor currently enrolled in Harvard’s Math for Teaching Graduate Program. The TGC spoke to her about her capacity as an Ambassador as well as her desire to change the global perception of mathematics and its accessibility for all:

How did you find out Global Math Project and what made you want to become an ambassador?

I have been an avid follower of James Tanton’s unique way of doing mathematics and was very thankful to Texas Graduate Center that I was able to meet him personally. Since then I have been sharing joyful math with colleagues. But last September, I decided to share his “Quadratics” topic at our District share fair, since it involved a bigger audience, I emailed him, to ask how do I go about copyright and so on.

It was then, when he mentioned, that he would be grateful if I would help him share his “Math” and invited me to be an ambassador for the Global Math Project.

What impact do you hope to make with the Global Math Project on your students/ school?

Being an ambassador, I would like my students as well as my entire school, or in fact the district and as much as the valley, to join 1 million students around the globe that will

Queen Claire-Martin solves a math problem during one of her Harvard graduate courses taken at the Texas Graduate Center.

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Queen Claire-Martin (right) is a member of Cohort 2 of the Math for Teaching Graduate Program and currently teaching mathematics at Jimmy Carter Early College High School at La Joya ISD

be rolling with fun and excitement as they engage in a mind blowing mathematical idea, “Exploding Dots” during the week of Oct. 10, 2017.

What is Global Math Week and what do you have planned for your students?

“To my students who read this: You can do so much more! You’re way ahead of where I was at your age. “

Not only do we release the first compelling mathematics video during that special week, we also release a full suite of follow-on materials exploring the complete Exploding Dots story. The videos, downloadable materials, and web applications will be available, for free, in perpetuity. The joyous and transformative impact of Exploding Dots will thus last a lifetime. https://www.theglobalmathproject.org/learn/ 10 | Texas Graduate Center

I will sign up my students starting January 2017 to be able to participate during the GMP week for free.

Currently the developers are working on an app for Exploding Dots, as soon as that will be available during the GMP week, all my students will download that app, and start a paradigm shift in Mathematics.

How do you intend to share this project with other teachers/ students?

I will share this movement during our Department Meetings, high school math meetings, District Wide Math Share fair, RGVCTM. I will also use social media like Twitter and Facebook to share this amazing information.

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MATHTEACH Collaborative PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT The Adventure of Teaching Algebra

Oliver Knill, PhD

Preceptor in Mathematics, Harvard University

Oliver Knill earned his BA and PhD in mathematics at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Switzerland. Since 2000, he has been a preceptor in the mathematics department at Harvard University. Prior to coming to Harvard, Knill taught for three years at Caltech in Pasadena, for one year at the University of Arizona in Tucson, and spent three years in Austin on a research fellowship at the University of Texas. Knill started his research in the field of dynamical systems and spectral theory, but more recently has shifted to applications of probability theory, analysis, geometry, and graph theory. In mathematics education, Knill’s focus is on the use of technology for teaching and learning. Recent projects in that area included crossplatform JavaScript animations, the use of computer algebra systems for visualization, inverse problems in computer vision for panorama photography, and the use of computer algebra systems for 3-D printing in education.

JANUARY 20, 2017 Workshop# 58020

Texas Graduate Center is a public-private initiative of the Texas Valley Communities Foundation. For more information, contact: Adriana Lopez, alopez@tvcof.org | 956.903.4231

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Awarded For Excellence

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The award recognizes our MATHTEACH Collaborative partnership with Harvard University Extension School, Harvard’s engagement in the South​​​​ Texas Region 12 | Texas Graduate Center

he Texas Graduate Center (TGC) and Harvard University Extension School are the proud recipients of this year’s UPCEA New England 2016 Regional Engagement Award. The award is given in recognition of an outstanding partnership of a member institution with one or more external constituents such as local communities, corporations, government organizations or associations. The award recognizes our MATHTEACH Collaborative partnership with Harvard University Extension School, Harvard’s engagement in the South​​​​Texas Region, our collaboration in program implementation, and the commitment of the program’s school districts, community and corporate partners in support of this initiative

Dr. Mary Alice Reyes, Executive Director and Dr. Andy Engelward, Director of the Math for Teaching Program and Interim Assistant Dean of Liberal Arts Education at Harvard University Extension School, accepted the award at the 2016 UPCEA Regional Conference in Newport, RI.

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Dr. Mary Alice Reyes, Executive Director and Dr. Andy Engelward, Director of the Math for Teaching Program and Interim Assistant Dean of Liberal Arts Education at Harvard University Extension School accepted the award at the 2016 UPCEA Regional Conference in Newport, RI.

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Harvard Extension School

FALL 2016 Courses A brief overview of the courses being taken by teachers enrolled in the 2016 Fall semester of the Math for Teaching Graduate Program.

Math E-10 Precalulus Instructor: David Arias, EdD During the semester, linear, quadratic, exponential, logarithmic, trigonometric, polynomial and rational functions will be discussed.

Math E-300 Mathematical Foundation for Teaching Secondary Math Instructor: Andy Engelward, PhD This course was created for middle and high school mathematics teachers to give them a chance to explore the inner workings of fundamental mathematical concepts involved in arithmetic as well as the basis for working with a variety of number systems.

Math E-15 Calculus 1

Instructor: Eric C. Towne, AB Topics include the meaning, use, and interpretation of the derivative; techniques of differentiation; applications to curve sketching and optimization in a variety of disciplines.

Math E-305 Mathematical Connections: Advanced Algebra and Trigonometry Instructor: Andy Engelward, PhD

In this advanced algebra course we conduct a series of in-depth explorations of this rich, fascinating subject, taking on topics involving the form and function of polynomials.

Math 300 Math for Teaching Algebra Instructor: Andy Engelward, PhD

This course discusses how different methods of teaching affect students differently and we explore a variety of activities and games that teachers can bring to their own classrooms to enhance their students’ understanding and enjoyment of mathematics.

Math 330 The Art of Craft of Posing Problems and Making Conjecture Instructor: David Arias, EdD

This course is designed to expand teachers’ mathematical habits of mind and to help teachers think more deeply about aspects of mathematics that they know, are expected to teach, and that their students are expected to learn.

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MSTC | Master Science Teacher Consortium PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

BIOLOGY

Sarah Elgin Viktor Hamburger Professor of Arts & Sciences Professor, Department of Biology Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professor Sarah C.R. Elgin is an American biologist noted for her work in epigenetics, gene regulation, and heterochromatin and her contributions to science education. In 2006, Elgin was named as the inaugural Viktor Hamburger Distinguished Professor in Arts and Sciences. At Washington University and in the St. Louis area, Elgin has been active in science education. She founded the Washington University Science Outreach program and has been active in science education in the University City school district.

February 17, 2017 Region one – ESC SAL DEL REY ROOM

Workshop# 59890

*Please bring laptop computers*

Texas Graduate Center is a public-private initiative of the Texas Valley Communities Foundation. For more information, contact: Adriana Lopez, alopez@tvcof.org | 956.903.4231

FALL 2016

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Jon Star:

The Joy of Teaching Algebra Dr. Jon R. Star, Professor of Education at Harvard Graduate School of Education, recently conducted a professional development workshop for local Rio Grande Valley (RGV) math teachers at Region One Education Services Center in partnership with the Texas Graduate Center (TGC) and Region One GEARUP.

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Jon Star (center) together with members of the Math for Teaching Graduate Program.

Dr. Star partnered with the MATHTEACH Collaborative as part of the TGC’s Professional Development Series which brings Harvard professors to the RGV for one and two-day workshops.

Dr. Star’s workshop focused on teaching strategies for improving Algebra knowledge in middle and high school students. Over 35 teachers were in attendance including TGC teachers currently pursuing their Masters in Mathematics for Teaching through Harvard’s Extension School program.

Joseph Alanis, La Joya ISD math teacher and

member of Cohort IV of the Math for Teaching Program, saw the immediate impact Star’s pedagogical strategies could have on his classroom, “I enjoyed that he based his lecture on a simple idea of compare and contrast, which is one of the key fundamental abilities for learning,” said Alanis.

Dr. Star studies children’s learning of mathematics in middle and high school, particularly Algebra.

His current research involves the development of flexibility in mathematical problem solving.

Mathematics teachers from various school districts in the MATHTEACH Collaborative were invited to participate in the workshop held at Region One ESC in Edinburg, Texas.

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Jon Star with Manuel Rodriguez (left), La Joya ISD teacher and member of Cohort IV at the Region One ESC.

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The Texas Graduate Center is a public-private initiative of the Texas Valley Communities Foundation.

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