California State University - Sacramento – Progress Report
- Principal Investigator: Daniel Orey
- Topic of Minigrant: Building Curriculum into Existing Methods Courses
- Duration of Minigrant: 2 years (Dec. 15, 2003 - Dec. 15, 2005)
- Date for Visit by PMET Monitor, given by PI: I am pretty open, have him contact us: orey@csus.edu.
Projects and Activities
GOAL 1: Improving Mathematics Courses for Teachers
We are still studying viable models for teaching and learning arithmetic from an ethnomathematics perspective. I have continued to gather and organize data to begin a study related to the cognitive consequences these algorithms. I have collected a number of alternatives and will further developed them this next semester with my ethnomath seminar and math methods courses. I did develop a book outline “The Algorithm Collection Project: An Exploration of the Ethnomathematics of Basic Number Sense Acquisition Across Cultures” and w/ M Rosa we have written two articles for publication related to this topic.
GOAL 2: Engaging Other Faculty
I have been asked to develop a display in the CSUS College of Education display care re: ethnomathematics and algorithms. I have given a workshop for learning skills faculty and staff re: languages and algorithms. I also gave numerous lectures and in-services in Brasil related to goal this summer. I will work with Prof Ramachandran to further develop communications related to culture and learning of mathematics, in the context of this grant.
GOAL 3: Networking
The Algorithm Collection Project has a website that can easily be linked to existing PMET networks. Grant support will further allow ongoing organization and data sharing via thisnetwork. As well, findings from this collaboration will be shared at PMET meetings, and the three California Mathematics Council conferences. I have had some time to further organize the site, but my schedule last semester did not allow me to go as far as I had wanted. I have developed an ethnomath strand at Asilomar, to bring together people interested in this topic. As well, I am part of a group who has planned a conference at the Exploratorium (Feb 2005) re: ethnomathematics.