2026 Mathematics Education Colloquium: Copur-Gencturk on March 19th

Please join us at the upcoming Mathematics Education Colloquium on Thursday, March 19, 2026 from 3:30pm - 5:00pm in B243 Wells Hall and on Zoom. Dr. Yasemin Copur-Gencturk, Professor of Education at the University of Southern California, will be presenting Why Content-Specific Expertise Matters: Identifying, Measuring, and Developing Mathematical Knowledge for Teaching.

Please see the zoom link and passcode in the Colloquium flyer posted on our Mathematics Education Colloquium page.

Abstract:  Despite substantial research documenting the important role teachers play in students’ academic learning, identifying the specific elements of teacher expertise that contribute to student learning remains challenging. Although mathematics education research has long emphasized domain-specific knowledge for teaching, attention to the content-specific nature of instructional expertise has lessened in recent years. In this talk, Copur-Gencturk will draw on her research examining teachers’ content knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge and showcase evidence illustrating how content-specific expertise remains central to improving mathematics teaching and learning. She will discuss how clearer identification of this expertise can inform efforts to support teachers more effectively and strengthen their instructional capacity. 

Bio: Yasemin Copur-Gencturk is the Katzman/Ernst Chair in Educational Entrepreneurship, Technology, and Innovation and a Professor of Education at the University of Southern California. Her scholarship focuses on the content-specific knowledge and skills teachers need to create meaningful learning opportunities in mathematics and how professional learning can effectively support the development of that expertise. Copur-Gencturk’s current work is at the forefront of designing and studying professional development that leverages AI and technology to enhance teacher learning and instructional capacity. Her work has been recognized with numerous awards, including the National Science Foundation’s CAREER Award and the Early Career Publication Award from the American Educational Research Association’s Special Interest Group for Research in Mathematics Education. She currently serves as Associate Editor of the Journal for Research in Mathematics Education. 

The Program in Mathematics Education sponsors this event.