Achieving Elusive Teacher Change through Challenging Myths about Learning: A Blended Approach

The idea that success in mathematics is only available to those born as “mathematics people” has been challenged in recent years by neuroscience, showing that mathematics pathways develop in the brain through learning and practice. This paper reports on a blended professional lea...

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Main Authors: Robin Keturah Anderson, Jo Boaler, Jack A. Dieckmann
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2018-07-01
Series:Education Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/8/3/98
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author Robin Keturah Anderson
Jo Boaler
Jack A. Dieckmann
author_facet Robin Keturah Anderson
Jo Boaler
Jack A. Dieckmann
author_sort Robin Keturah Anderson
collection DOAJ
description The idea that success in mathematics is only available to those born as “mathematics people” has been challenged in recent years by neuroscience, showing that mathematics pathways develop in the brain through learning and practice. This paper reports on a blended professional learning model of online and in-person meetings during which 40 teachers in 8 school districts in the US learned about the new brain science, challenging the “math person” myth, as well as effective mathematics teaching methods. We refer to the combination as a Mathematical Mindset Approach. Using mixed methods, we conducted a one-year study to investigate teacher and student learning in a Mathematical Mindset network. We collected data on teacher and student beliefs, teacher instructional practice, and student learning gains on state achievement tests. The results from our quantitative analyses found statistically significant positive improvements in student beliefs, teacher’s instructional practice, and on students’ math test scores. The mindset approach particularly raised the achievement of girls, English learners, and economically disadvantaged students. Based on our qualitative analysis, we propose that the success of the intervention rests upon two central factors: (1) The different forms of PD served to eradicate the learning myths that had held up teachers and learners; and that (2) Teachers had space for identity work as mathematical learners.
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spelling doaj.art-bd8474fade654ddc85c5f2af9cdcc3792022-12-22T02:21:46ZengMDPI AGEducation Sciences2227-71022018-07-01839810.3390/educsci8030098educsci8030098Achieving Elusive Teacher Change through Challenging Myths about Learning: A Blended ApproachRobin Keturah Anderson0Jo Boaler1Jack A. Dieckmann2Stanford Graduate School of Education, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USAStanford Graduate School of Education, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USAStanford Graduate School of Education, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USAThe idea that success in mathematics is only available to those born as “mathematics people” has been challenged in recent years by neuroscience, showing that mathematics pathways develop in the brain through learning and practice. This paper reports on a blended professional learning model of online and in-person meetings during which 40 teachers in 8 school districts in the US learned about the new brain science, challenging the “math person” myth, as well as effective mathematics teaching methods. We refer to the combination as a Mathematical Mindset Approach. Using mixed methods, we conducted a one-year study to investigate teacher and student learning in a Mathematical Mindset network. We collected data on teacher and student beliefs, teacher instructional practice, and student learning gains on state achievement tests. The results from our quantitative analyses found statistically significant positive improvements in student beliefs, teacher’s instructional practice, and on students’ math test scores. The mindset approach particularly raised the achievement of girls, English learners, and economically disadvantaged students. Based on our qualitative analysis, we propose that the success of the intervention rests upon two central factors: (1) The different forms of PD served to eradicate the learning myths that had held up teachers and learners; and that (2) Teachers had space for identity work as mathematical learners.http://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/8/3/98mathematicsmindsetmythsteachinglearningidentityblended learning
spellingShingle Robin Keturah Anderson
Jo Boaler
Jack A. Dieckmann
Achieving Elusive Teacher Change through Challenging Myths about Learning: A Blended Approach
Education Sciences
mathematics
mindset
myths
teaching
learning
identity
blended learning
title Achieving Elusive Teacher Change through Challenging Myths about Learning: A Blended Approach
title_full Achieving Elusive Teacher Change through Challenging Myths about Learning: A Blended Approach
title_fullStr Achieving Elusive Teacher Change through Challenging Myths about Learning: A Blended Approach
title_full_unstemmed Achieving Elusive Teacher Change through Challenging Myths about Learning: A Blended Approach
title_short Achieving Elusive Teacher Change through Challenging Myths about Learning: A Blended Approach
title_sort achieving elusive teacher change through challenging myths about learning a blended approach
topic mathematics
mindset
myths
teaching
learning
identity
blended learning
url http://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/8/3/98
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AT joboaler achievingelusiveteacherchangethroughchallengingmythsaboutlearningablendedapproach
AT jackadieckmann achievingelusiveteacherchangethroughchallengingmythsaboutlearningablendedapproach