COLUMBUS - A program developed by an Indiana University School of Education professor is the basis for a workshop on project-based learning for math teachers that took place this week in Columbus. Fifty-six teachers from 11 counties began “Math Matters in Southeastern Indiana” at the Columbus Signature Academy-New Tech. A second workshop takes place July 22 and 23.

The workshops are based on the Math Matters program developed by Catherine Brown, professor of mathematics education. Brown has worked throughout the state to help teachers find innovative ways to engage students with math. “Math Matters in Southeastern Indiana” is a project of “Economic Opportunities through Education by 2015,” or “EcO15,” an initiative of business, education, and community leaders to advance K-12 education in a 10-county area in southeastern Indiana. (EcO15 covers Bartholomew, Dearborn, Decatur, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Jennings, Ohio, Ripley, and Switzerland counties.) A $38 million grant from the Lilly Foundation funded the start of the project in 2007.

The workshops present ways for teachers to use project-based learning methods, which engages students in learning subject matter through work on a project. Local math teachers selected to participate focused on Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1 and 2, and Geometry projects. Teachers Jackie Fischvogt, from Columbus Signature Academy-Central Middle School, and Sara Gaynor, from Columbus Signature Academy-New Tech High School, will facilitate the workshop with help from Brown and others.

The workshop helped local mathematics teachers develop their understanding of project based instruction and support the design of project based instructional units.

“We know that students constantly wonder ‘Why am I learning this math?’ and ask ‘When will I ever use this?’ and are turned off by mathematics they view as abstract and useless,” Brown said. “Students who learn mathematics through projects grounded in workplaces in their community won’t have these questions. They will see why math matters and opens life opportunities for them.”

The idea for the workshops came out of a study EcO15 conducted to determine how to best meet the needs of preparing students for industry sectors in the area, including manufacturing, health care, and tourism.

“Our goal is to raise all the citizens of southeastern Indiana up a level, whether that be in their education, job placement, job training, or income,” said Stephanie Weber, Communications and Outreach Coordinator for EcO15.

She added that the most recent statewide end-of-course assessments for Indiana’s high school students revealed a dismal success rate in algebra. For the 2007-2008 school year, just 21 percent passed Algebra 1.

“So this workshop was developed to help engage these math teachers and help them be more creative and innovative in their approach to teaching math,” she said.

Each teacher that went through this workshop is developing at least one project to use in the upcoming school year. EcO15 coordinators will help teachers partner with local businesses to develop projects grounded in actual operational activities within those businesses.

“The students are actually going to learn about real-life work experiences and learn math at the same time,” Weber said. “The ultimate goal of this workshop is to start with a select group of teachers, but continue this throughout the state of Indiana to try and improve mathematics education.”

A Math Matters website is under construction and will contain all the projects produced by the teachers as well as resources for any teacher wanting to develop projects. Brown said she hopes that the website will be a place where mathematics teachers can learn about PBL, share their ideas and support each other. The site has been developed by Nancy Miller of the Buddy Project (www.buddyproject.org), an organization that supports Indiana teachers and students through educational technology, and Jean Lee, a doctoral student in mathematics education. The Math Matters website is available to guests at URL http://iuedmoodle.educ.indiana.edu/moodle/course/view.php?id=6.

EcO15 facilitator Bob Abrams said the teacher-business partnership helps teachers demonstrate real-world applications to students while requiring them to develop communication and teamwork skills. He said businesses connect with schools and teachers and might even identify future employees.

“EcO15 is based upon the fundamental belief that it is the collective responsibility of educators and businesses to better prepare our students to prosper in the southeastern region of Indiana,” Abrams said. “Math Matters demonstrates this core principle of the need and benefits of such collaboration.”