University of Memphis – Progress Report
- Principal Investigator: April M. Hoffmeister
- Topic of Minigrant: Improving Preparation of Future Elementary School Teachers in Mathematics
- Duration of Minigrant: 2 years
- Date for Visit by PMET Monitor, given by PI: Since the course will not exist until Spring 2005, I think it would be best to wait until then. If we are funded for the NSF grant to have a conference at UM, then that time may be appropriate for a visit (April 21-23). However, anytime after March 15 would be fine.
Activities and Progress
Develop and implement a two-semestersequence in mathematics for elementary education majors
Progress on this goal has been gradual over the past year. However, we will have a new course, Math 1480, implementedin the Spring 2005 semester that will be required for all elementary education majors. The focus of this course is mathematics for elementary education majors. This is a major step forward for the Department. Pilot sections of the course existed during the Fall 2003 and Spring 2004 semesters. Unfortunately, we were not able to offer a section for the Fall 2004 semester. Once Math 1480 is running smoothly, then I can propose to make the second course in the sequence into another course specifically for elementary education majors.
Write group assignments for collaborativeactivities.
Prof. Cecil Rousseau is continuing to write and pilot the group assignments. I have used some of them in my courses, as well.
Purchase manipulatives for courses.
Since we do not yet have a formal course, I have been borrowing manipulatives from a colleague in Education. However, we may buy a set for the Spring 2005 semester, since this when the formalcourse will exist.
Interact with in-service, elementary school teachers
I have been working with the mathematics facilitators from both the city and county schools. This semester we willhave a meeting for interested teachers.
Invite a guest speaker to talk to the mathematical sciences faculty about the importance of teacher education.
This goal actually served as a catalyst for an NSF grant proposal for which the department chair and I applied. We proposed to have a meeting in April 2005 where we would bring mathematics educators from across the nation to the UM to discuss current issues and trends in mathematics education. As part of the PMET mini-grant, we are going to invite a speaker to the UM for the Fall 2004 semester.