Convening Agenda
In April 2016, TERC and the Institute for Learning Innovation (ILI) organized a convening at the New York Hall of Science with over fifty researchers and practitioners from informal mathematics education and the burgeoning “making and tinkering” movement. Before and after the convening, the team also hosted on-line forums with a broader group of professionals from across the country.
Below is an outline of the convening agenda and links to slides from the presentations.
Saturday, April 30
Focus: Connecting communities and establishing common perspectives
Welcoming remarks
- Katie Culp, Chief Learning Officer at New York Hall of Science (NYSCI)
- Al DeSena, NSF Program Officer for Math in the Making
Introduction and goal-setting
- Andee Rubin, TERC
- Scott Pattison, ILI
Keynote: “Math and Making: Delight and Identity”
- Peggy Monahan, NYSCI
Observation of visitors in NYSCI Design Lab
Activity 1: Scribbling machine
- Led by Karen Wilkinson and Mike Petrich, Exploratorium
- Jan Mokros, Science Education Solutions, as “math eyes”
Activity 2: Inflatable sculptures
- Led by Peggy Monahan, NYSCI
- Ricardo Nemirovsky, Manchester Metropolitan University, as “math eyes”
Gallery walk with participation projects and resources
Sunday, May 1
Focus: How can we collaborate to make a difference going forward?
Welcoming remarks
- Andee Rubin, TERC
Examples of Math in Museum Settings: Geometry Playground
- Josh Gutwill, Exploratorium
Design Zone
- Andee Rubin, TERC and Scott Pattison, ILI
Examples of Math in Museum Settings: Design Zone
- Andee Rubin, TERC and Scott Pattison, ILI
Keynote: “Equity and Funds of Knowledge Perspective”
- Marta Civil, University of Arizona
Discussant: “What do ‘Funds of Knowledge’ challenge in those of us who care about Math in Making?”
- Paula Hooper, Northwestern University
Open conference sessions
- How do we help kids develop STEM identities?
- What is the role of staff and educators?
- Mathematics and making: Where do they meet?
- Math education in the making
- Research questions and priorities: Using making to teach math
- Role of parents in math in the making
- Where are ways we can make math explicit?
- Research questions and priorities