Closing the Gap

Description

Math Connected is an educational support organization whose goal is to change the nature of secondary mathematics instruction and support so that students can find greater academic success.  We approach this in two ways.  First, we are researching and developing a list of key attributes and practices that are held in common between all highly effective teachers.  In response, we are developing programs that all teachers can use to improve their own practices.  Second, we are developing a new style of curriculum materials and assessment tools to promote student learning through development of conceptual understanding, mathematical literacy and problem solving skills.  Combined, a teacher is equipped with the resources needed, and armed with the training to execute at a high level.

This project, Closing the Gap in Distance Learning, is in immediate response to many of the hurdles presented to students, teachers, parents and administrators by school closures and distance learning expectations.  Our goal is to compile the hard earned lessons by teachers and students and then to share that information in an easily consumed fashion.

Those cutting edge teachers that figure out how to teach effectively to a general population of students in a virtual classroom are, figuratively speaking, inventing the wheel.  There’s no need for everybody to invent the wheel.  Instead, let’s refine its uses.

We will seek teachers that have shown great innovation that has led to student success.  We will compile their experiences, good and bad, and find commonalities between teachers, as well as exemplary insights from individuals.  We will put all of this information into an online professional development course that can be take, free of charge, by any interested teacher.

While many of the specifics of teaching online will not transfer to traditional teaching, we will discover many things that were considered best practices in traditional education that are either non-effective or counter-productive.  These situations and practices will be highlighted with great focus.  As a result, we believe the course offered to teachers will be relevant even when they return to the classroom.

Our goal is to have 1,000 teachers participate in the class by the end of the 2020/21 school year.  That would, in turn, reach approximately 12,500 high school students!