Program Agenda

March 18, 2017
Erickson Hall, Michigan State University

Conference Theme: Developing Systems to Face the Challenges of Today and Tomorrow.

Building on the past traditions of Conversations among Colleagues, the format of the 2017 MI-AMTE conference consists of invited plenary sessions, participant working groups, and solicited talks that focus on the conference theme.

7:30 to 8:25 a.m.

Registration and Light Refreshments
Room: Lobby

8:30 to 8:40 a.m.

Welcome
Room: 103 (Kiva)
Vince Melfi, Director of the Program in Mathematics Education, Michigan State University

8:40 to 9:25 a.m.

Reclaiming the Floor in Mathematics Teacher Education: Where Do We Begin?
Kathryn Chval, Professor and Dean, College of Education, University of Missouri
Introduced by Kristen Bieda, Michigan State University
Room: 103 (Kiva)

The purpose of this session is to provide a national perspective on current or future issues in mathematics education including research and practice related to educational systems in mathematics education that affect these issues. The work of this speaker is particular useful setting for better understanding educational systems and to raise questions for the conference participants.

9:30 to 10:20 a.m

Building the Education System of Tomorrow - Today
John Austin, Past President, State Board of Education, Michigan Department of Education
Introduced by Matt Wyneken, University of Michigan - Flint
Room: 103 (Kiva)

Austin will speak about how State Leaders must be and are working to design and implement an education system that delivers the skills and competencies needed for all learners to navigate and succeed in the 21st century economy and society. He will discuss the current and future state of standards in math and other disciplines. Additionally, Austin will speak about assessments situated in creating individualized learning contexts that prepare all learners with open-ended pathways to opportunity and the implementation of needed post-secondary degrees/credentials for all.

10:20 to 10:30 a.m.

Break

10:30 to 11:15 a.m.

Invited Panel of Practitioners
Sherry Gay-Dagnogo, Former Teacher and State Representative for District 8, Michigan House of Representatives
Valerie L. Mills, Supervisor and Mathematics Education Consultant, Oakland Schools
Shari Stockero, Associate Professor and President of MI-AMTE, Michigan Technological University
RJ Webber, Assistant Superintendent, Novi Community Schools
Moderated by Laura Van Zoest, Western Michigan University
Room: 103 (Kiva)

The panel of practitioners at will describe challenges related to improving teaching and learning in their area. Panelists will raise an issue or challenge, connect the issue to policies that may have helped cause/ameliorate the situation, and provide one or two suggestions for addressing the challenges.

11:15 to 11:30 a.m.

Break

11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

  • Christine Browning, Western Michigan University
  • Stephanie Casey, Eastern MIchigan University
  • Molade Osibodu and Amy Ray, Michigan State University
  • Diane Owen-Rogers, Kalamazoo Regional Education Service Agency
Working Groups
Rooms: 107, 109, 111, 113
Working Group Leaders: 

Participants will break-out into small groups as indicated on their namebadges. The task for each group is to (1) formulate three or more questions that will be posed for all invited speakers and panel members; (2) identify particular issues and actions that MI-AMTE might address in the future. The resulting recommendations will be available on poster paper throughout the conference for attendees to view and discuss.

12:30 to 1:30 p.m.

Lunch and MI-AMTE Annual Business Meeting
Room: 103 (Kiva)

Join us for the annual MI-AMTE business meeting. Participants can also explore the recommendations of the working groups and use sticky paper to offer additional comments or suggestions.

1:30 to 2:40 p.m.

Questions from Working Groups for All Invited Speakers and Panel Members
Facilitated by Laura Van Zoest, Western Michigan University
Room: 103 (Kiva)

Speakers and panel members will respond to questions from the working groups.

2:45 to 3:30 p.m.

Solicited Talks Related to Conference Theme and MI-AMTE Special Interest Groups
 
A Conversation About Preparing Mathematics Teachers for Middle School
Laura McLeman, University of Michigan – Flint
Matt Wyneken, University of Michigan - Flint
Liz Cunningham, University of Michigan - Flint
Room 107

Presenters will focus on the preparation of middle school mathematics teachers within the state of Michigan. We will first present details about an initiative that is being undertaken at the University of Michigan-Flint. Then, we will facilitate a larger conservation about statewide supports and the role of teacher preparation programs in the advocacy of middle mathematics teacher preparation within Michigan.

Middle and Secondary Mathematics Teacher Apprentices Engaged in a Field-Centric Preparation Model
Jonathan Bostic, Bowling Green State University
Lance Kruse, University of Toledo
Maria Nielsen, Bowling Green State University
Room 109

Presenters will describe how middle and secondary math education majors in a large teacher preparation program are apprenticed to classroom math teachers in partner schools each semester, beginning freshman year. We will explore how this has impacted math teacher educators, partnering schools and teachers, and math education students.

Building Solidarity to Face Challenges Together: Cases of Sustained Relationship Building and Focused Collaborative PD
Beth Herbel-Eisenmann, Michigan State University
Tonya Bartell, Michigan State University
Room 111

Given the pervasive rhetoric that deprofessionalizes teachers, it is imperative that teacher educators share ways they have built solidarity to face the challenges associated with mitigating these messages. This session shares lessons learned from teachers involved in 3 long-term collaborations, two of which lasted for 5+ years and utilized a model that combined study groups and action research focused on mathematics classroom discourse.

In-service and Pre-service Teachers: Using Assessment to Inform Instruction
David Coffey, Grand Valley State University
Kristin Fragon, Muskegon Regional Math and Science Center
Room 113

John Dewey was concerned that when experienced teachers left the profession that their expertise would leave with them. The goal of this project was to leverage the experience of in-service teachers with the enthusiasm of pre-service teachers while introducing both groups to ways to use assessments to inform instruction. Participants will experience course highlights designed to partner a district and a university for Response-to-Intervention math teaching.

Special Interest Group: Statistics Education
Led by Stephanie Casey, Eastern Michigan University
Room 133F

Are you interested in improving the preparation of preservice and inservice K-12 Michigan teachers to teach statistics? Please join us to share ideas and discuss goals for the Statistics Education Special Interest Group of the MI-AMTE.

Special Interest Group: Teaching Mathematics Content Courses (TeMaCC)
Led by Nina White, University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
Room 103 (Kiva)

TeMaCC stands for "Teaching Mathematics Content Courses." Now in its third year, TeMaCC focuses on sharing ideas across institutions about the design and teaching of mathematics content courses for future teachers. In this short meeting we will begin the planning process for a TeMaCC lesson study activity starting this summer and also discuss possible foci and formats for our annual fall meeting. If you are interested in fostering a community of practice around the instruction of these courses, join us!

3:30 to 3:45 p.m.

Break

Participants can explore the recommendations of the working groups and use sticky paper to offer additional comments or suggestions.

3:45 to 4:30 p.m.

Transforming Mathematics Teacher Education in Michigan: Equity and Impact
Corey Drake, Associate Professor and Director of Teacher Preparation, Michigan State University
Introduced by: Eric Mann, Hope College
Room: 103 (Kiva)

Mathematics teacher education in Michigan – and across the country – faces a number of persistent challenges. In this talk, I will build on what we have learned throughout the day’s presentations and describe two of these challenges – preparing teachers to teach equitably across diverse contexts and understanding the impact of novice teachers’ preparation experiences. While these challenges might at first glance seem quite separate, I will discuss the critical importance of considering them together to bring about transformative change in Michigan’s schools and educational systems. I will conclude with a proposal for teacher educators working in partnership with K-12 schools and districts to address these two challenges in tandem.

4:30 p.m.

Meeting Adjourn.