About the Initiative
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Welcome to our College Algebra Instructor Guide, designed to revolutionize the way we teach and learn math! Our mission is simple: to make College Algebra engaging, relevant, and accessible to all STEM students.
We’re thrilled to bring you this awesome tool, designed to support our instructors and make your learning journey even better. Developed in sync with the Open Stax Algebra 2 & Trig Textbook, this guide will turn classrooms into captivating spaces without burdening our instructors with extra prep work. It’s all about creating a fun and engaging environment for everyone!
We recognize the dedication of our part-time instructors who work tirelessly to enrich students’ learning experience. With limited time and multiple responsibilities, they still strive to make math content captivating and meaningful.
BACKGROUND: Teaching introductory mathematics to college students whose math learning has been deeply disrupted is a challenge. While foundational skills are important, so are attitudes toward math. Students need to see math as relevant, doable, and creative. Underlying these characteristics is the need for students to be skilled at inquiry. With inquiry, students can fully experience the benefits of mathematical thinking. In embarking on this fellowship, my goals were to push my reflective and inquiry-based practices to have a more widespread impact. My ongoing goal is to refresh the math curriculum to infuse more inquiry and creativity to help keep students interested in developing their mathematical thinking, seeing themselves as math insiders as they learn and grow.
CONTENT: You will notice that the active learning assignments push students to be stewards of their own learning by observing and creating questions.
EXPERIENCE: I have used these assignments for three semesters and have witnessed students’ learning through their keen observations and question-posing.
What is
Active Learning?
” Active Learning is described as “classroom strategies that move away from a transmission or “telling” model (the classic “didactic lecture”) towards a model where students actively engage in problem-solving and knowledge creation”
2021
About The Creators
Yevgeniya Rivers
Gabriela DaCosta
Initiator
Yevgeniya
Raised in Brooklyn, NY, Yevgeniya did not imagine she would end up studying mathematics as an undergraduate, then math education followed by educational leadership in graduate studies. Now, Yevgeniya is a senior lecturer with 16 years of teaching experience in secondary and post-secondary settings. She has been a coordinator for 9 years, keen on making math education more inclusive while also providing unwavering support to fellow instructors who want to help their students overcome barriers to learning. Witnessing students posing thoughtful questions and experiencing epiphanies in math brings her immense joy. Yevgeniya thrives when young people begin to like, or at least tolerate, math difficulties.
Yevgeniya also finds pleasure in engaging in creative problem-solving with her instructor colleagues, firmly believing that embracing challenges is at the core of progress. This determination to create change drove her to pursue a doctorate in educational leadership (Ed.D.), and she is on track to complete her studies in December 2023.
Outside of academia, Yevgeniya is a proud New Haven resident who enjoys embarking on family bike rides and pursuing various adventures.
GRaphic Designer
Gabriela DaCosta
Gabriela DaCosta was born in New Haven, Connecticut and is currently seeking her BFA in Graphic Design at the University of New Haven. Her passion for the arts and rigorous studies stemmed from her love of expression, her family’s cultural background living in Brazil. Being the first college student in her family has instilled determination and a willingness to grow. She aspires to have her art displayed in galleries, work for an acclaimed business, and even develop her own company. During her journey, In her spare time, she works as a freelancer on various branding projects and creates personalized scratchboard designs.
