Teaching Projects: Math for Teaching Capstone

In front of math museum“The Capstone class has been one of the most enjoyable ones for me as an instructor as it provides you with an opportunity to explore a wide variety of approaches to teaching in a supportive environment, alongside teachers we’ve all gotten to know through various classes in the Math for Teaching program – it’s a last time for us to get together to address the fundamental questions of why we choose to teach the way we do, and how this reflects your teaching philosophy and the views of math education that you have been developing during your time in the program. The hope is that everyone going through the Capstone experience, given the chance to study other approaches to teaching, and working on alternative teaching activities, will come up with a renewed and re-energized sense of purpose towards your own teaching."

— Andrew Engelward, Lecturer in Extension, Assistant Dean of Academic Programs

Carolyn Gardner-Thomas"I love teaching the capstone course! I learn so much from the teachers, their projects, their varying perspectives and unique experiences. The course is always an opportunity for rich conversations about the issues we care very deeply about in mathematics and math education. It also gives me the opportunity to reflect on the Math for Teaching program as teachers at the end of the program integrate their knowledge, skills and experiences gained in the courses they’ve taken over the past few years. The capstone course is a time for celebrating the accomplishments of our students. We reflect on how our individual and collective journeys have shaped our pedagogical approaches in our own classrooms. The capstone offers a space to solidify lasting professional relationships as we continue to wrestle with ideas to address urgent and equitable approaches to support mathematical learning for all students."

— Carolyn Gardner-Thomas, Director, Math for Teaching

Overview

The Math for Teaching capstone offers you the opportunity to explore and discuss a wide range of teaching and learning approaches related to the ones you have experienced during the program.  Class activities involve observing and reading about alternate teaching styles, experimenting first-hand with various teaching approaches, and discussing teaching philosophies in order to create meaningful personal teaching statements.

The capstone option works well if you want to explore more ideas about teaching math and appreciate the regularly scheduled structure of a semester-length course.  The work done in the capstone class mirrors some aspects of thesis projects, but with more emphasis placed on the practical aspects of teaching, and less on theoretical research results. The capstone is taught in a collaborative seminar style.

Course Sequencing

You take the capstone in your last semester as your final degree requirement. For Academic Year 2023-2024, MATH E-599 Teaching Projects: Math for Teaching Capstone is offered is offered in the fall and spring semesters - both via live web-conference.

Capstone Faculty

Andrew Engelward, PhD,  Lecturer in Extension, Assistant Dean of Academic Programs

Carolyn Gardner-Thomas, PhD, Director of the Mathematics for Teaching Program