Packing Slip 
item |
Learning Communities in Teaching Developmental Mathematics |
contact |
Dmitri Logvinenko (Phoenix College) dmitri.logvinenko@pcmail.maricopa.edu |
college(s) |
Phoenix College |
discipline(s) |
Mathematics, education |
summary |
Using the principles of the Learning Communities in Teaching DEvelopmental Mathematics in Community Colleges. |
details |
The Learning Community is a powerful and time proven instructional tool. Applications of Learning Community principles are present in various ancient and modern environments, from Yucatan midwifes to insurance claim processors. Practices of the Learning Community are used in various shapes and forms in different educational programs of modern Community Colleges: in art, craft, nursing and many other courses and programs. However, due to specifics of mathematical developmental and more advanced courses, application of the principles of the Learning Communities in teaching mathematics in Community Colleges is difficult and often requires creative and innovative approach. In my project I started with researching the general idea and basic concepts of the Learning Communities, then reviewed different instructional practices and implementations of the Learning Community principles in mathematical instruction in various secondary education institutions: University of California in Berkeley, Santa Barbara and DE Anza Community Colleges, and University of Texas in Austin. From the result and practices of these programs I selected the features and developed a framework for the implementation of the Learning Community features in teaching of Developmental Mathematics sequence of courses in Community Colleges. ------------------------------------------------------------ Outcomes: In a paragraph or two describe what worked well. Did you accomplish your objective(s)? Were you able to complete your summer project as written? If not, what did you modify and why? What did not go as well as expected, if anything? Were there any surprises? Note: Use the questions as guides for your outcomes. Do not include detailed list of workshops attended, speakers who presented, or a list of items you have seen, heard, or read. ------------------------------------------------------------ During the course of the project I became familiar with the framework underlying the Learning Communities. By reviewing Developmental and more advanced mathematical programs utilizing the practices of the Learning Communities I was able to determine positive effects and possible features that will bring the most significant improvements in the Developmental Math instruction in Community Colleges. I realized that the most considerable constructive changes in Developmental Math education could be achieved through the system of measures and modifications of current instruction and teaching support. Completion of the project provided me with an extensive knowledge of the working forces inside of the Learning Community and its underlying principles. Review of the published articles and literature on application of the Learning Communities in teaching of Developmental and more advanced mathematics showed that there is a lot of unexplored and new territory, open for future research and investigation. ------------------------------------------------------------ Professional Growth: Your own professional growth is a large part of your project. Your professional growth is important to you, your students, your college, and possibly other colleagues. How did project affect you professionally? What skills did you learn? What environments were you working in and how might your summer project influence your teaching or other responsibilities? Did you gain a different perspective? Was it professionally valuable for you? ------------------------------------------------------------ This project allowed me to become acquainted with the practices of the Learning Communities and become proficient enough to develop and implement the Learning Community principles in teaching of modern Developmental and advanced mathematics. I was able to modify and adopt existing practices of the Learning Community to incorporate them in modern mathematical instruction in community colleges. I’m planning on writing a grant for implementation of the findings of my research in Community Colleges. This project helped me to gain enormously important knowledge about one of the oldest and time proven methods of instruction and new level of understanding of the concepts and ideas of the Learning Communities will allow me to greatly improve the retention, mathematical self-esteem levels of the generations of Community Colleges students of mathematics and other subjects. ------------------------------------------------------------ Dissemination: How will you share this information with your colleagues, department, students, or college? ------------------------------------------------------------ I’m planning on publishing the conclusions of me research as an article in national mathematical magazines and I posted the results on my web page. I’m planning on sharing the assessments of my study with my colleagues and develop a working implementation of the created Learning Community model in our Community College. Note! As a professional courtesy to the owner of this package, if you use some aspect of this package or have some thoughts about it, please share your feedback via the comments form below. |
web links |
http://www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/fpg/ http://www.pc.maricopa.edu/Mathematics/faculty/dlogvinenko/Research/Learning%20Community%20in%20Teaching%20Mathematics%20in%20Community%20College.htm |
supplements |
Teaching Mathematics and Learning Community in Community College REport (document) Note! As a professional courtesy to the owner of this package, if you use some aspect of this package or have some thoughts about it, please share your feedback below. |
shareback |
A "Shareback" cites the places on the web that mention, reference, or use this MLX package, and "shares" that information back here (more about shareback...) Sharebacks can be generated automatically by weblog tools. |
extra |
Last modified: Sep-29-2008 Date created: Sep-29-2008 Visitor count: 371 Dublin Core Metadata record  This package is included in the Faculty Professional Growth Summer Project Reports special collection. |
Maricopa Learning eXchange
http://www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/mlx/slip.php?item=2217
