Active Learning Summer Workshop

During June 11-14, 2025, the RMP held the Active Learning Summer Workshop at Kellogg Community College. Facilitated by Dr. April Ström and Dr. Scott Adamson the workshop focused on approaches to implement active learning in gateway mathematics courses. The following principles of active learning were explored:

• Students’ deep engagement in mathematical thinking (PRoficiency)

• Instructors’ interest in and use of student thinking (OWnership)

• Student-to-student interaction (Engagement)

• Instructors’ attention to equitable and inclusive practices (Student Success)

As helping students make sense of mathematical ideas and cultivate a mindset for productive mathematics learning is paramount in any mathematics course, the workshop engaged participants to

• Experience active learning from a student perspective, then to reflect on the learning from an instructor’s perspective using the OPAL: Observation Protocol for Active Learning framework;

• Reflect on lesson design and implementation with a focus on rich mathematical tasks;

• Facilitate these tasks using meaningful mathematics discourse, while paying particular attention to communication (teacher-to-student and student-to-student) as well as how to critique the reasoning of students;

• Explore meaningful ways to support all students with diverse backgrounds and mathematical preparation through equitable and inclusive teaching practices; and

• Explore how to use levers for change to modernize the mathematics curriculum.

In addition, Dr. Keith Nabb engaged participants in other active learning approaches such as you Number Talks, Chain Notes, Frayer Model, Open Middle, Four Corners, and Give an Example, and how to use hinge questions to assess student learning. 

Overall the training was informed by the works of:

• Building Thinking Classrooms, by Peter Liljedahl.

• The 5 Practices for Orchestrating Productive Mathematics Discussions, by Smith and Stein.

• The Observation Protocol for Active Learning, by April Strom and Scott Adamson.

• Laursen, S. L., Rasmussen, C. (2019). I on the prize: Inquiry approaches in undergraduate mathematics. International Journal of Research in Undergraduate Mathematics Education, (5), 1-18.

• AMATYC IMPACT

• NSF-Funded AMATYC Teaching for PROWESS project