| CEC Modules Continuing Education Credit (CEC) research- and standards-based online modules will focus on the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Process Standards. The process standards are not clearly delineated by the Sunshine State Standards. However, the process standards describe the way mathematics is learned as well as taught. Students learn by making connections, by representing and communicating their ideas, and by being able to reason and prove why something works. Students also learn mathematics in contexts that make sense to them by exploring rich mathematics tasks. The process standard modules will help teachers develop a deeper understanding of their own content knowledge and, at the same time, give them the tools to better understand their students’ thinking. |
STEM Modules Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Project modules will be developed by Miami Dade College, the universities, and our other partners. They will provide teacher projects that have been field-tested over the years and are proven to be instructionally sound. NASA SEMAA and SECME Inc. have worked with college and university engineering departments, creating a plethora of hands-on activities that have increased students’ interest in STEM. These projects will be evaluated by the partners and M-DCPS educational staff and placed on the portal. Other projects that are not modules and have proven to be effective will be evaluated to see if they can be modified to fit the online module format. |
| Loyo Modules Learn on Your own (Loyo) best practices online modules are designed for teachers who need refreshers or other strategies regarding how to deliver instruction on challenging and relevant topics. The modules will be short and succinct. Teachers will be able to complete them within thirty minutes. The modules will not require broadband connections (Macromedia Flash, etc.) so that teachers can access them at home with a dial-up connection. |
LIM Modules Literacy in Mathematics (LIM) online modules helps teachers take advantage of teachable moments and highlight the fact that not all books are geared to mathematics. Research shows that children learn materials best when it has meaning and is useful to them (Whitin, 1994). Teachers can view portions of books related to mathematics that students will find interesting and enjoyable. In addition, literature books that support mathematical problem solving are a central part of the modules. |
| Professional Community The community is a network for teacher relationships that enables the exchange of ideas and resources. Technology- savvy teachers can develop a common framework for the analysis of their ideas and resources. It is a statewide communication connection among mathematic teachers. |
Online Evaluations The online evaluation system will provide M 2 EDproject developers and users with instant feedback on specific components of the portal. As users complete modules, they will be able to both evaluate their learning and submit a short questionnaire about the module. Results of the questionnaire will be stored in a database, and a popup window will appear giving the user the average results in a chart. |
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
Math Matters Everyday is a collaboration with Miami Dade College (MDC), Florida International University (FIU), the University of Miami (UofM), SECME Inc. (formerly the Southeastern Consortium for Minorities in Engineering), and NASA’s Science, Engineering, Mathematics and Aerospace (SEMA) Academy.
Math Matters Everyday is an Internet portal that provides math teachers with access to best practices vis-à-vis accredited online professional development, lesson plans and activities based on the leading research in how people learn, how to teach mathematics and how to integrate reading into the process.
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY's Math Matters Everyday internet portal is structured around clusters of STEM Modules, and Literacy in Math, and is focused on math teachers in grade bands K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12. The goal is to help teachers increase their competence and confidence in teaching math in a way that is both rigorous as well as relevant to students.