World Class STEM World Class STEM EducationEducation

Projects That AdvanceProjects That AdvanceTeacher Proficiency and Teacher Proficiency and

Student LearningStudent Learningin Science and Mathematicsin Science and Mathematics

Michael E. Martinez, Ph.D.Michael E. Martinez, Ph.D.

Professor of EducationProfessor of Education

University of California, IrvineUniversity of California, Irvine

Two ChallengesTwo Challenges

How Can We Build Excellence in:How Can We Build Excellence in:– Teaching Science and Mathematics?Teaching Science and Mathematics?– Learning Science and Mathematics?Learning Science and Mathematics?

How Can We Do So Through the How Can We Do So Through the Two Primary Functions of the Two Primary Functions of the University:University:– Teaching?Teaching?– Research?Research?

CalTeachCalTeach

A Program of Study Designed to Prepare

Talented UCI Undergraduates to

BecomeExcellent Middle and

High SchoolScience and Mathematics

Teachers

Two PathwaysTwo Pathways

Bachelors Degree in a STEM Discipline, Bachelors Degree in a STEM Discipline, andand

California Teaching CredentialCalifornia Teaching Credential

In Four YearsIn Four Years

Bachelors Degree in a STEM Discipline, Bachelors Degree in a STEM Discipline,

Master of Arts in Teaching, andMaster of Arts in Teaching, and

California Teaching CredentialCalifornia Teaching Credential

In Five YearsIn Five Years

How Is This Possible?How Is This Possible?

Streamlined and highly innovative Streamlined and highly innovative undergraduate coursework on teaching in undergraduate coursework on teaching in the STEM disciplines.the STEM disciplines.

Effective cross-campus collaboration.Effective cross-campus collaboration.– School of Physical Sciences, Biological Sciences, School of Physical Sciences, Biological Sciences,

ICS, Humanities, and the Department of ICS, Humanities, and the Department of EducationEducation

A $2.5 million grant from the National Math A $2.5 million grant from the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI), along with and Science Initiative (NMSI), along with funding from the UC Office of the President.funding from the UC Office of the President.– UCI is one of 13 demonstration sites nationallyUCI is one of 13 demonstration sites nationally

Dedication of UCI faculty and staffDedication of UCI faculty and staff

CalTeach MeetsCalTeach MeetsDesperate NeedsDesperate Needs

Many science and math courses are staffed Many science and math courses are staffed by teachers who are poorly trained in the by teachers who are poorly trained in the STEM discipline they teach.STEM discipline they teach.

The University of California needs to do The University of California needs to do much moremuch more– About 38% of STEM teachers earn their bachelors About 38% of STEM teachers earn their bachelors

degrees at UCdegrees at UC– Only about 11% earn their teaching credential at Only about 11% earn their teaching credential at

UCUC CalTeach, streamlined but intellectually CalTeach, streamlined but intellectually

rigorous, allows students to seek a teaching rigorous, allows students to seek a teaching job immediately after graduating.job immediately after graduating.

Other Contributing Other Contributing FactorsFactors

Strong program managementStrong program management Vigorous recruitment of undergraduatesVigorous recruitment of undergraduates Ongoing support, including scholarshipsOngoing support, including scholarships Launching of new science and math Launching of new science and math

majors, and major concentrations, majors, and major concentrations, aligned with prospective careers in aligned with prospective careers in teachingteaching

Support from school district partners, Support from school district partners, including Santa Ana, Newport Mesa, including Santa Ana, Newport Mesa, Tustin, and AnaheimTustin, and Anaheim

Spatial Temporal Spatial Temporal Mathematics at ScaleMathematics at Scale

An Innovative and Fully Developed Paradigm to Boost

Math AchievementAmong All Learners

Traditional Instruction in Traditional Instruction in MathematicsMathematics

Traditional math education relies Traditional math education relies heavily on symbolic notation in the heavily on symbolic notation in the form of numerals, operations, and form of numerals, operations, and equations, as well as on technical equations, as well as on technical terminology.terminology.

A Spatial-Temporal A Spatial-Temporal ApproachApproach

Instead, mathematical Instead, mathematical patterns can be patterns can be represented as represented as images or images or transformations of transformations of images.images.

Pattern-finding, Pattern-finding, experienced as mental experienced as mental imagery, is a natural imagery, is a natural ability of the human ability of the human mind and its mind and its underlying neural underlying neural circuitry.circuitry.

An Exciting PossibilityAn Exciting Possibility

Spatial-temporal (ST) reasoning may be a Spatial-temporal (ST) reasoning may be a highly intuitive way of learning fundamental highly intuitive way of learning fundamental math concepts.math concepts.

ST-based mathematics offers the potential for ST-based mathematics offers the potential for effective learning among students who effective learning among students who experience frustration with traditional ways of experience frustration with traditional ways of teaching math.teaching math.

ST Math may be a gateway to far larger ST Math may be a gateway to far larger numbers of students gaining high levels of numbers of students gaining high levels of mathematical proficiency, opening a pipeline mathematical proficiency, opening a pipeline of future scientists, engineers, and medical of future scientists, engineers, and medical professionals.professionals.

ST Math SoftwareST Math Software

Designed to develop deep intuitive Designed to develop deep intuitive understandings of fundamental understandings of fundamental mathematical concepts:mathematical concepts:– Fractions, proportions, symmetries, Fractions, proportions, symmetries,

and functionsand functions Video game metaphorVideo game metaphor

– Universally motivatingUniversally motivating– Games With a Purpose (GWAP)Games With a Purpose (GWAP)

Activities challenge children to apply Activities challenge children to apply spatial-temporal skills to solve problemsspatial-temporal skills to solve problems

Prior Research ResultsPrior Research Results ST Math has produced substantial gains in ST Math has produced substantial gains in

mathematics achievement in comparison to mathematics achievement in comparison to control group students.control group students.

Learning advantages tend to grow each Learning advantages tend to grow each year.year.

Effects have been found on standardized Effects have been found on standardized tests of broad mathematics achievement, tests of broad mathematics achievement, not only on ST concepts.not only on ST concepts.

Martinez, M. E., Peterson, M., Bodner, M. Coulson, A., Vuong, S., Hu, W., Earl, T., & Shaw G. L. (2008). Music training and mathematics achievement: A multiyear iterative project designed to enhance students’ learning. In A. E. Kelly, R. A. Lesh, & J. Y. Baek (Eds.), Handbook of design research methods in education: Innovations in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics learning and teaching (pp. 396-409). New York: Routledge.

Findings From Findings From Previous ResearchPrevious Research

Our research shows that a large Our research shows that a large segment of students, perhaps most, segment of students, perhaps most, can benefit from an approach to can benefit from an approach to learning math that uses spatial-learning math that uses spatial-temporal reasoningtemporal reasoning

SSpatial-temporal reasoning and patial-temporal reasoning and representations might hold special representations might hold special promise for English language learnerspromise for English language learners– By de-emphasizing mathematical By de-emphasizing mathematical

terms and explanations expressed in terms and explanations expressed in EnglishEnglish

A New Project:A New Project:ST Math At ScaleST Math At Scale

An Innovative and Fully Developed An Innovative and Fully Developed Paradigm to Boost Math Achievement Paradigm to Boost Math Achievement Among All LearnersAmong All Learners

FundingFunding– US Department of Education, Institute of US Department of Education, Institute of

Education Sciences (IES)Education Sciences (IES)– Four years (2009-2013)Four years (2009-2013)

Participating SchoolsParticipating Schools– 52 elementary schools in Orange County52 elementary schools in Orange County– Allied with the Orange County Math Allied with the Orange County Math

InitiativeInitiative

The Collaborating The Collaborating InstitutionsInstitutionsUniversity of California, Irvine

Michael E. MartinezPeg BurchinalLindsey RichlandAnneMarie ConleyKeara OsborneMelissa KibrickTeya Rutherford

Mind Research Institute

Andrew CoulsonFran AntenoreAbby Daniels

Orange County Department of Education

Stephanie SchneiderLauren Duran

A New ParadigmA New Paradigm Prior research shows that a spatial-temporal (ST) Prior research shows that a spatial-temporal (ST)

approach to mathematics learning can open the approach to mathematics learning can open the gateways to STEM learninggateways to STEM learning

Now it’s time to put this exciting possibility to a Now it’s time to put this exciting possibility to a rigorous testrigorous test– To understand the nature and magnitude of To understand the nature and magnitude of

causal effects through a large-scale randomized causal effects through a large-scale randomized experimentexperiment

– To understand whether ST Math offers To understand whether ST Math offers particular advantages to specific subgroups of particular advantages to specific subgroups of learnerslearners

– To understand what implementation factors To understand what implementation factors moderate the effects of ST math on student moderate the effects of ST math on student learninglearning

Addressing Critical Addressing Critical NeedsNeeds

The U.S. faces a crucial need for elevated The U.S. faces a crucial need for elevated achievement in math and, more broadly, STEM achievement in math and, more broadly, STEM fieldsfields– To close the achievement gapTo close the achievement gap– And to increase the pool of highly-trained And to increase the pool of highly-trained

scientists and engineersscientists and engineers– Resulting in heightened international Resulting in heightened international

competitivenesscompetitiveness These are longstanding valued goalsThese are longstanding valued goals

– Now we need fresh thinking to achieve themNow we need fresh thinking to achieve them– The UCI Department of Education is playing The UCI Department of Education is playing

a leading role, locally and nationallya leading role, locally and nationally