Modeling for Educators: Introducing All Students to Mathematical Modeling
What Is It?
A hands-on workshop teaching educators real-world math modeling
When Is It?
Saturday, January 11, 2025, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Where Is It?
Seattle Convention Center Arch at 800 Pike, Tahoma 1 (Level 3)
What Does It Cost?
It's free! The workshop, classroom-ready resources, door prizes, and yes, even a catered lunch are all free!
About the Workshop
In this session, discover how mathematical modeling can energize your classroom, transforming it into a dynamic environment where students connect mathematics to their daily lives and grow as confident, capable problem solvers.
This engaging, six-hour workshop offers practical strategies for introducing modeling to students with a background in Algebra II or higher. Participants will engage with activities developed for the Math Modeling module, part of Washington State’s redesigned Modern Algebra 2 curriculum. This module emphasizes the development of modeling competencies alongside conceptual understanding and procedural fluency in Algebra II mathematics.
Through “hands-on” exploration, participants will work through portions of the module and learn how to adapt materials from the Consortium for Mathematics and Its Applications (COMAP)’s rich library of modeling resources for classroom use. The session will also focus on actionable approaches to align with the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM)’s recent call to emphasize modeling in high school curricula, as outlined in High School Mathematics: Reimagined, Revitalized, and Relevant.
Facilitators
Dr. Ben Galluzzo, Executive Director of COMAP, lead author of the modeling module for Washington State’s redesigned Modern Algebra 2 curriculum.
Dr. Kayla Blyman, St. Martin’s University and Director of COMAP’s Interdisciplinary Contest in Modeling (ICM) and Middle Mathematical Contest in Modeling (MidMCM)
Dr. Adewale Adeolu, North Seattle College and judge for COMAP’s High School Mathematical Contest in Modeling (HiMCM)
Objectives
- Engage in mathematical modeling and explore the components of the modeling process.
- Reflect on pedagogical opportunities embedded in the modeling cycle and on how to foster students’ mathematical modeling competencies and their identities as mathematical thinkers through attention to curricular and pedagogical best practices for classroom implementation.
- Discover ways to highlight the practical value of mathematics, helping students connect it to their daily lives and future aspirations.
- Explore approaches to leverage mathematical modeling to build students’ confidence in reasoning, improve their collaborative problem-solving abilities, strengthen communication skills, and cultivate critical thinking.
Questions?
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