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  • 1.  IMPACT in Action - Social Justice and Fostering Proficiency

    Posted 09-30-2021 23:29:00

    In what ways have you introduced social justice into your mathematics classes and what impact did it have on teaching and learning?



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    Dennis Ebersole
    Professor
    Northampton CC (retired)
    Bethlehem PA
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  • 2.  RE: IMPACT in Action - Social Justice and Fostering Proficiency

    Posted 10-08-2021 19:22:00
    A few years ago I was working with my colleagues on a new course called College Math Foundations, which is now the first course in our quantitative literacy/STATS pathway. In developing contextual and problem-centered lessons, we wanted to use contexts that were relevant to modern life. We ended up developing lessons that look at climate change, carbon footprint, incarceration rates, the wage gap, minimum wage, etc. as motivation to apply averages, percents, data presentation, and the other learning outcomes of the course. These lessons spark a lot of great discussion, and are varied enough that just about every student has some background knowledge they can apply. Even better, students are motivated to develop ways of making and interpreting quantitative arguments because of the importance of these contexts. This seems to be a necessary precursor to proficiency -- getting students to feel the need to develop their math fluency.

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    Scot Pruyn
    Mathematics Faculty & Learning Center Coordinator
    Clackamas Community College
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  • 3.  RE: IMPACT in Action - Social Justice and Fostering Proficiency

    Posted 10-09-2021 13:18:00
    Here's the introduction to the course that I used for my liberal arts math this term (with units on taxes, probability, statistics, proportional reasoning, logic, and problem solving). The students were extremely engaged, despite its being a remote class, and eager to learn a lot more, especially about taxes. The activity allowed students to engage on the topic of tax evasion from a variety of directions and levels, as well as exploring the size and impact of the numbers under discussion.  NYT Sept8 Article Sharable
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    NYT Sept8 Article Sharable
    by Barbra
    View this on Desmos >



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    Barbra Steinhurst
    Portland CC
    Hillsboro OR
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  • 4.  RE: IMPACT in Action - Social Justice and Fostering Proficiency

    Posted 10-10-2021 06:20:00
    Barbra:

    What a great activity! The New York Times article really hooks students. What could be more obviously inequitable to students? If I had not retired, I would use this activity. Thank you for sharing.

    Dennis

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    Dennis Ebersole
    Professor Emeritus
    Northampton CC (retired)
    Bethlehem PA
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  • 5.  RE: IMPACT in Action - Social Justice and Fostering Proficiency

    Posted 10-10-2021 06:37:00
    Scot:

    Thank you for sharing this. Working with your colleagues to develop a new course must have be invigorating. We get too little time to discuss teaching and learning with our colleagues. I agree that this is necessary. Brain research has shown us how important it is make connections to what students already know. The probability of connecting with students' prior knowledge is very high with the approach you and your colleagues used.

    Dennis

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    Dennis Ebersole
    Professor
    Northampton CC (retired)
    Bethlehem PA
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