MADESE Partnership for Online Professional Development : Mathematics Fractions for Elementary School

1
MADESE Partnership for Online Professional
Development Mathematics - Fractions for
Elementary School TeachersFund Code 165
2
Summary-

• Springfield Public Schools (SPS) and Virtual
  High School (VHS) developed an Online Course for
  Elementary Teachers Mathematics- Fractions. VHS
  facilitated the course for SPS teachers who
  committed to become instructors of the online
  course. Upon completion of taking the course as a
  participant the SPS teachers took a course in
  facilitating online course work with VHS.
  Finally, in the summer of 2008 the SPS teachers
  facilitated the online course in teams for other
  elementary teachers.

3
 
Action Plan
4
Equipment Purchased Fraction Manipulatives
5
Participants Project-

• Each participant will create a standards-based
  lesson plans for elementary mathematics-
  fractions utilizing the MassONE TLR and
  Curriculum tools and post the lesson on the VHD
  on MassONE.

6
(No Transcript)
7
(No Transcript)
8

• Mathematics - Fractions for Elementary School
  Teachers
• A. Course Description
• This course is designed to promote the
  understanding of fractions for elementary school
  teachers both from a conceptual as well as a
  mechanical perspective. Each participant will
  create a standards-based lesson, specific to
  their own grade level, to teach fractions to
  their students.
• B. Learning Outcomes
• There are nine overarching goals in Mathematics -
  Fractions for Elementary School Teachers.
• To help implement the recommendations found in
  the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics'
  Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School
  Mathematics and Massachusetts Mathematics
  Frameworks
• To present K-5 mathematics replacement
  units/curricula and a number of activities in
  these units
• To increase awareness and utilization of online
  resources that will help the teacher keep abreast
  of current trends in mathematics education and
  that will provide them with innovative ideas for
  teaching mathematics in the elementary school
• To provide the teacher with their own virtual
  math manipulatives and to help them teach for
  conceptual understanding through the use of
  manipulatives (both virtual and physical)
• To demonstrate how technology (e.g., computers,
  Internet, and animations, simulations and games)
  can be used to help students develop mathematical
  concepts as well as increase the teachers
  resourcefulness as a mathematics education
  professional
• To become familiar with the goals and mechanics
  of differentiated instruction
• To increase awareness of individual differences
  in student learning styles
• To deepen K-5 teachers understanding and
  abilities to teach fraction concepts
• To help view mathematics as an exciting, creative
  subject where active involvement is vital for
  understanding, cognitive flexibility, and the
  development of confidence and positive attitudes
  toward mathematics.

9
Course Format

• Mathematics - Fractions for Elementary School
  Teachers was an 8-week NetCourse taken entirely
  over the Internet. Participants were required to
  attend class at least four times per week.
  Course work was designed to engage participants
  for 5 to 10 hours per week. Attendance and login
  duration were checked weekly to make sure that
  our participants are complying with the strict
  attendance policy.

10
(No Transcript)
11
Artifacts-Forums
12
Artifacts- Fraction Walls
13
Artifacts-
14
Artifacts-
15
Artifacts-
16
(No Transcript)
17
Evaluation
18
The most significant course strengths noted
included

• high quality of course content
• opportunity to communicate with professionals
  from other schools/districts and to share
  material, resources, and ideas
• applicability of course materials and resources
  to classroom teaching (e.g., generated new ideas
  for lesson plans, technology, games, and
  activities for participants classrooms)
• clarity of course designcourses were well
  organized, with clear objectives, expectations
  and assignments
• stimulation of new thinking
• convenience of learning online
• high quality instructors

19

• Contact Information
• Dr. Deborah K. Teale Gendreau
• Director of Technology
• Springfield Public Schools
• 195 State Street
• Springfield, MA 01102
• 413-787-6605 (P)
• 413-787-7211 (FAX)
• gendreaud_at_sps.springfield.ma.us
• Jacqueline Clini
• District Instructional Technology
  Specialist-Elementary
• Springfield Public Schools
• 195 State St
• Springfield, MA. 01102
• 413 478.7318
• clinij_at_sps.springfield.ma.us