Two case studies were conducted to examine whether inquiry-based learning (IBL) can help students in understanding normal distributions, and to determine if IBL methods have any effect on students' conceptual and computational capabilities. There were 16 students in the traditional class and 17 students in the IBL-implemented class who…

Teaching gerrymandering in our high school geometry classrooms provides students with a unique opportunity to use mathematics to describe, analyze and make sense of the world around them. Our purpose is to provide our students the opportunity to apply learned definitions and formulas of area and perimeter to a sociopolitical context. We present a…

Improving students' performance in Calculus is a challenge for many colleges and universities. One way of improving students' performance as well as their metacognition and study skills is to provide opportunities for them to receive support outside of the lecture. A modified version of the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ)…

Low passing rates in developmental mathematics have been a serious concern for community colleges for many years. A course in Quantitative Literacy (QL) offers non-STEM students an alternative option to introductory algebra as a path to a degree. This paper describes the implementation and evolution of QL at the Borough of Manhattan Community…

This article describes an activity that incorporates measurement in order to lead students to discover and explore fundamental concepts of calculus. Students are provided with an experientially real starting point involving measurement and are encouraged to engage in mathematical discussions in a low-stakes environment. I describe the activity as…

What would be one of the most sensible ways for a country to invest to achieve maximal economic growth? A recent study (Chetty, Friedman, & Rockoff, 2011) by economists at Harvard and Columbia Universities shows that better teacher quality results in significantly higher students' lifetime earnings. And investing in public school teachers…

A history is given of the Educational Museum of Teachers College, which began in 1886, and David Eugene Smith's extensive collection of mathematical tools used in the Museum's exhibits is discussed. Historic mathematical instruments including, the astrolabe, abacus and counting rods, and the slide rule are examined. The author uses digitized…

This exploratory study compared a computer-based mathematics education intervention with two more traditional approaches with the purpose of improving instruction in perimeter and area. Kidspiration software, tile/stick manipulatives and pencil/paper-based copying/drawing of shapes were implemented in a 3rd Grade New York City public school…

This article examines three early career elementary teachers' orientations toward standards-based mathematics curriculum implementation in New York City public schools. It is important to have a greater understanding of teachers who are responsible for enacting standards-based curriculum in authentic teaching situations in order to learn more…

In the late Fall of 2012, the Museum of Mathematics ("MoMath") will open in New York City and will be the only museum dedicated solely to mathematics in the United States. The content and design of most of the exhibits are not yet available to the public but some information about how the Museum will use technology has been released. The…