Professional and Lifelong Learning

Course description

This course examines critical issues in middle and high school mathematics education in the United States from a variety of perspectives. Questions addressed include: what are the goals of mathematics education at the middle and high school level? Why does math education in middle school and high school matter? What societal structures (historic, economic, political, and cultural) impact mathematics education and how does math education impact those structures in turn? As the world changes, in what way do the goals of mathematics education change? We examine the impact of Sputnik on math education in the past and consider how the current data explosion informs educational decisions in the present. We sharpen the lens through which we view math education in the US by looking at some international case studies. This is a discussion-based course. Students are expected not only to be active participants in discussions but also to take a lead in conducting discussions.