This working group continues to develop a research program on the practice of launching mathematical tasks and its resulting impact on learners. Our research agenda contains two strands of inquiry exploring (1) theory and framework building concerning effective launches and (2) empirical examination of the link between launching and opportunities…

Math Teachers' Circles (MTCs) bring math teachers and university mathematicians together to engage in collaborative mathematical activity. Currently there are over 110 MTCs across 40 states. A key claim is that MTCs are "communities of practice." However, to date there has been no research to substantiate this claim. In this paper, we…

The computer can be used as a tool to represent and communicate geometric knowledge. With the appropriate software, a geometric diagram can be manipulated through a series of animation that offers more than one particular snapshot as shown in a traditional mathematical text. Geometric constructions with the computer enable the learner to see and…

This paper presents two mathematics activities that model functions studied using the Calculator Based Ranger (CBR) software for TI-82 and TI-83 graphing calculators. The activities concern a bouncing ball experiment and modeling a decaying exponential function. (ASK)

The Cabri programming language is a dynamic geometry software used all around the world by many of teachers, students, and researchers in mathematics. This paper presents examples of using Cabri and graphing calculators as a tool to practice mathematics and provides ways that mathematics could be approached, taught, and received in a way…

As a learning theory, constructivism describes knowledge as being in flux--where an individual internally constructs knowledge through social and cultural mediation. Constructivist learning theorists contend that social activity and discourse must play important roles in order for understanding to occur. This paper describes how the social…

This paper posits that, as educators' attention turns to elementary mathematics as preparation for algebra, it is important to begin by examining the kind of elementary mathematics content teaching that is aligned with reform. The paper calls for a close examination of students' development of operation sense. The role of children's engagement…

In these two companion papers, a learning activity is introduced that teaches students how mathematics works through the visual aid of picture grids. The picture grids are composed of 60 different acrylic stained-glass window overlays. Each fractional part is represented by a different color: fifths are green, quarters are yellow, etc. The square…

The concept of function is central in mathematics and grows in importance as one progresses in depth and breadth of understanding mathematics. Results from national assessment progress reports indicate that the majority of students do not comprehend the concepts of function and graphing. Technology has the potential to improve the understanding of…

One of the major goals of mathematics education reform efforts is for students to become more confident in their abilities. This paper suggests that computer conferencing provides a way to change classroom practice so that students can work together in a self-paced manner that builds self-esteem and confidence in mathematics. A pedagogical…

The physics learning problem that students usually regard equations and other symbols in physics as algebraic exercises rather than representations of real world phenomena is commonly known. This article discusses how the Web-based interactive instructional materials were used to help students connect the symbolic world and the real world. The…