This paper examines the phenomenon of homogenization in higher mathematics education from three dimensions: textbooks, teaching methods, and assessment, identifying rigid educational policies, limited resources, and entrenched teacher mindsets as underlying causes. It proposes four reform pathways: differentiated instruction, diverse teaching…

Mathematical modeling is crucial in the field of education, particularly in mathematics, as it enhances students' mathematical skills and prepares them for solving real-world problems. The study focuses on the challenges of teaching mathematical modeling, specifically in the Malaysian education system. We utilized a case study approach, involving…

Adjusting the Calculus I curriculum by putting modelling and differential equations literally at its centre leads to a better-organised and better-motivated course. The biggest change is including a section on "qualitative" and "numerical" solutions to ordinary differential equations between the customary sections on…

Background/purpose: The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify strengths and deficits of alternative teacher certification programs, with particular emphasis on approaches to strengthening mathematical content knowledge and pedagogy. Materials/methods: Six participants included both teacher candidates enrolled in internship in the…

Efforts to improve learning outcomes in undergraduate mathematics are backed by calls for instructors to move away from persistent pedagogical norms, such as traditional "chalk-talk lectures" and timed closed-book exams. Although the movement towards active learning pedagogies and alternative assessments is gaining ground, uptake has…

Even before the pandemic slowed learning for many, only 39 percent of California students demonstrated proficiency on the state math assessment. During the pandemic, the proportion of math-proficient students fell to one-third. At the same time, the STEM workforce faces shortages and a lack of diversity, which call into question the longstanding…

In this participatory action research (PAR) study, I sought to understand how teachers implemented equitable and culturally responsive academic discourse to support African American students during mathematics instruction. Working with a group of teachers in a co-practitioner researcher (CPR) group, I examined to how teachers effectively planned…

Reimagining elementary mathematics pedagogy using a three-step process--See It, Say It, Symbolize It--author Patrick L. Sullivan provides a guide for developing a dynamic and flexible understanding of numbers and operations. By helping students develop a language that is consistent across concepts and connecting it to what is seen and symbolized,…

Acknowledging that our professional development (or methods course) was not going as well as we had hoped was difficult. However, knowing what to do and correcting the problem was even more challenging. This article explains how we engaged teachers in helping us rethink our video club by listening to and acting on their ideas. Through "coffee…

In this conceptual article, we argue for the need to examine power relations in continuous improvement (CI) in education. Specifically, we contend that examining power in CI requires an examination of practices that constitute the work of CI. Drawing on practice theory, we conceptualize practice and power and use these constructs to examine a CI…

In this article, we explore demands and tensions involved when schools implement ambitious mathematics teaching (AMT). Following a description of a framework that distinguishes between internal and external demands, we characterize the tension between these in terms of alignment, balance, and buffering, which collectively speak to coherence. We…

Even though there is a great temptation as teachers to share what is known, many are aware of an idea called "rules that expire" (RTE) and have realized the importance of avoiding them. There is evidence that students need to understand mathematical concepts and that merely presenting rules to carry out in a procedural and disconnected…

Background: Numerous studies show that active and engaging classrooms help students learn and persist in college, but adoption of new teaching practices has been slow. Professional development programs encourage instructors to implement new teaching methods and change the status quo in STEM undergraduate teaching, and structured observations of…

In 2019, the four authors were teaching mathematics at the same public middle school in a suburban district of the mid-atlantic. They had been seeking ways to make adjustments to assessment and grading practices to support students in their learning, and after reading Joe Feldman's "Grading for Equity" (2018), they were inspired to make…

Professional learning that includes coaching is an effective method of supporting teachers to make changes to their teaching practice. This article provides an overview of the initial in-situ professional learning and coaching in a primary school in Western Sydney facilitated by a Mathematics Teaching Educator. In this article I present the…