In postsecondary Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education, equity issues regarding race and gender receive attention. On this attention, it is suggested to view from the sociopolitical perspective--mathematics is political, mathematics education is political, and equity is defined with the critical dimension of identity…

This study evaluates the effectiveness of inquiry-oriented instruction in introductory linear algebra classes by comparing the performance of students who learned introductory linear algebra concepts in inquiry-oriented settings (TIMES students) with the students who attended other linear algebra classes (Non-TIMES students). We used the…

Inquiry-based mathematics education (IBME) includes features such as: (a) Using tasks with authentic problem contexts, (b) building on students' everyday resources, (c) relying on small-group and whole-class discussions, and (d) establishing certain norms of participation for the inquiry classroom community (Laursen & Rasmussen, 2019). Prior…

Inquiry-based mathematics education (IBME) includes features such as: (a) Using tasks with authentic problem contexts, (b) building on students' everyday resources, (c) relying on small-group and whole-class discussions, and (d) establishing certain norms of participation for the inquiry classroom community (Laursen & Rasmussen, 2019). Prior…

The problem addressed in this study was that some high school students do not have the math skills needed to succeed in a traditional chemistry class. If instructional strategies are not changed, many students who struggle with algebra will also struggle to master the chemistry content which is a required high school subject in Arizona. The…

This program focused on improving mathematics content and pedagogy for fifth-grade teachers, including regular classroom teachers and exceptional education teachers, as they implemented the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for Mathematics. Concentrating work with a single grade allowed for tightening breadth while increasing depth of content.…

Games have shown to be great tools for learning a variety of topics, but few games have been developed mathematics topics at the undergraduate level. One possible avenue is to pursue digital game-based learning. The game "Vector Unknown" was designed from a task from the Inquiry-Oriented Linear Algebra (IOLA) curriculum to connect…

Our field has generally reached a consensus that active-learning approaches improve student success; however, there is a need to explore the ways that particular instructional approaches affect various student groups. We examined the relationship between gender and student learning outcomes in one context: inquiry-oriented abstract algebra. Using…

This study induced the students to be more active and able to design discovery activities so that they can communicate the material's concepts well. Students can use their activities to find a solution to problems with inquiry-based learning materials that were supplemented with a guided note-taking model. For this reason, a valid, practical, and…

This study describes how nine university professors managed their teaching when a shift from lecturing to inquiry-based learning was mandated in a large enrollment course, linear algebra for math majors. We describe the tensions that emerged and how they were resolved, in part via the production of worksheets that were used in teaching. We…

There have been recent pushes for more active learning in mathematics classrooms, especially at the undergraduate level. To incorporate more active learning, there is a need for tasks that explicitly support this type of instruction, attention to student reasoning and whose ideas are publicly acknowledged, and awareness of differences in students'…

The paper describes active learning strategies used in undergraduate college algebra and business calculus courses. There are a variety of active learning strategies described in the literature. We wanted to implement a few that together, satisfy the key characteristics of active learning strategies. The active learning strategies described in…

During this action research study of Algebra I teachers at a high school in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, I have presented information related to the implementation of inquiry-based learning (IBL) and the findings from classroom observations and a focus group interview. The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of IBL instructional…

Too often, high school algebra students encounter topics in a discrete, disconnected fashion. In the authors' first years of teaching, they found students to be adept at solving problems they were currently studying; for instance, they could solve quadratics during a quadratics unit. Too often, however, students struggled with that same content…

Competency-based learning (CBL) is a grading strategy that emphasizes the mastery of content. At Middle Technical College (MTC), success rates in the college algebra class have decreased. This study will answer two questions: how will a CBL approach to learning affect student perceptions of their success and what are student perceptions of after…