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The Program has two components -- Academic Offerings and Research Activities.
In the Academic Offerings component, there are degree offerings at the Ph.D. and M.Ed. Levels in Mathematics (and Science) Educational Leadership. The current focus of the programs in mathematics are in preparing leaders in three areas:
(1) curriculum development, specifically the process of creating, developing and using manipulatives to improve the teaching and learning of mathematics (and science) for students in schools, grades k-12; and
(2) technology development, specifically the process of creating, developing and using technology products, particularly virtual manipulatives and virtual math worlds, to improve the teaching and learning of mathematics (and science) for students in schools, grades k-12; and
(3) professional development, specifically the process of creating, developing and implementing courses and programs for the professional development of teachers of mathematics in schools particularly those required to update knowledge and skills in emerging national, state and local standards; mathematics content; the use of manipulatives; and the use of technology (virtual manipulatives and virtual math worlds) for instruction.
In the Research Activities component, faculty and students work collaboratively on two major questions:
(1) How does one develop and disseminate curriculum materials (manipulatives, print, technology) for students and teachers that will have an important impact on the teaching and learning of school based mathematics?
(2) How does one create and implement professional development programs that will provide meaningful, long term growth experiences for teachers and positive results in improving the teaching and learning of school based mathematics?
To answer question 1, there is considerable activity in the program engaging faculty and students in all aspects of the research and development necessary for the invention, creation, development and dissemination of physical manipulatives, virtual manipulatives and the relevant print materials for the teaching of school based mathematics.
Currently, the major focus is on the Dr. Super's Virtual Math Manipulatives Project. This effort is devoted to creating and developing curriculum materials and technology based products (virtual manipulatives) for various, new real manipulatives: Triango, Dr. Super's Triangles, Super Math, Trigram, Factor Blocks, Geoshapes, and GeoJunior. These new real manipulatives, as well as their virtual versions, many of which are distributed by major publishers, are the inventions of Dr. Behrouz Aghevli (a.k.a Dr. Super) and were co-developed with Dr. Mark Spikell. Students working with these Meta Media Mathematics Program faculty members have first hand mentoring from two recognized authorities on the invention, creation and use of manipulatives and virtual manipulatives in the teaching of school based mathematics. Much of the work on virtual manipulatives is in collaboration with colleagues in the School of Information Technology and Engineering and students may have opportunities to work with others in that School.
But this is not the only project. Research efforts may be directed toward developing and commercializing technology products (virtual manipulatives) and support materials for physical manipulatives that are not the inventions or co-developed products of faculty in the program.
There are over 20 important physical math manipulatives widely used in schools to teach mathematics. Students may work on the development and dissemination of virtual versions and requisite support materials of such well known manipulatives as Attribute Blocks, Tangrams, Pattern Blocks, Cuisenaire Rods, Base Ten Blocks, Linking Cubes, Algebra Lab Gear, etc.
To answer question 2, there is considerable activity in the program engaging faculty and students in all aspects of the research and development for creating, publishing and disseminating actual professional development programs (workshops, institutes, courses of study, etc.) that promote the various national (National Council Teachers of Mathematics, NCTM) and state (Virginia Standards of Learning, SOL) standards. Faculty and students are actually collaborating on programs to promote the core NCTM standards of Problem Solving, Communication, Reasoning and Connections and the Virginia SOL on Patterns, Functions and Algebra; Data Analysis; and Geometry. And, selected students are provided an opportunity to do research on related to preparing specifically for roles as university or school based teachers of teachers.
Additional Information can be obtained by visiting another page about the Meta Media Mathematics Program or by contacting (preferably by email):
Dr. Mark A. Spikell, Professor
Coordinator, Ph.D. and M.Ed. Leadership Programs in Mathematics
and Science Education
Graduate School of Education MS4B3
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA 22030
703-993-2042 (o)
703-993-2013 (fax)
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