Developing an Inquiry Mathematics Classroom: A Four Session Course

Instructor: Dr. Jonathan Katz

Can the mathematics classroom be an exciting place where students grapple with ideas, develop real understanding and feel more capable of engaging with the discipline? That question represents some of the possibilities that can happen in an inquiry classroom.  What is an inquiry mathematics classroom? Why would it benefit your students? Will it prepare students for college? Can students with disabilities learn in this setting? These are some of the questions we will look at in this 4-session course sponsored by the NY Performance Standards Consortium.

The course will meet from 12-3 PM on the following 4 days in the spring semester.Tuesday, March 15 Wednesday, April 6Thursday, May 5Wednesday, June 1

What will happen in these four sessions? We will play with math, an essential aspect of inquiry instruction.We will look at how a student can learn concepts and procedures through inquiry activities and/or grappling with non-routine problems.We will look at the history of inquiry  and what research has to say about this approach.We will visit classrooms, perhaps your classroom.We will have some students come and speak with us about the experience in college and the impact of learning math through inquiry.We will look at how inquiry prepares students for authentic assessments and PBATs.

In an inquiry classroom the students are truly at the center. Their ideas and questions direct where the lesson might go. So this will also be true about this course.  Your ideas and questions will set the direction of this course.

If you would like to participate in this course or have any questions  please contact AJ at ajrn@performanceassessment.org or Jonathan Katz at kcalatrava@gmail.com.Please understand if you want to participate it is a commitment to come to all four sessions.