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What's New at NCSM-Equity and Social Justice Center
Women 1.5 Times More Likely to Leave STEM Pipeline after Calculus Compared to Men
The progress of young women through the STEM pipeline is the focus of the March article on equity and social justice, recalling the February readings that also addressed STEM participation for students of color. While the February article explored strategies for engaging young students as producers rather than just consumers of technology, the March article provides sobering data on women's paths for
exiting
the STEM pipeline and career paths
. A
ccording to this study, women are 1.5 times more likely to leave a STEM major at the conclusion of a college level Calculus 1 course. The reason, conclude the authors, is that women lack
confidence
in their own ability to continue into the second year of calculus. It is important to note that
all
Calculus 1 students showed a decrease in mathematical confidence, but the difference was more pronounced in female students.
The authors found that t
he probability that a male student with at least average standardized math scores, who took high school calculus, and who is seeking a STM degree (engineering students are overall more persistent) drops out after the first year of calculus is 11.7%. The probability that women with similar background drop out out of the calculus sequence is 16.3%. In absolute terms this is not much different, but in the case of students who did not take high school calculus, the probabilities are 31% and 40% respectively.
Interestingly, the reasons often cited for students dropping out of the calculus sequence include too much course work, a change in major, and/or a stated lack of understanding of calculus 1 concepts. But since the authors state that they controlled for academic preparedness, career intentions, and instructional approach in the analysis, they conclude that the study "begs the question of whether calculus is weeding out students based on actual capability or a lack of confidence in their mathematical capability." A different study of high school girls also points to confidence level, not ability, as the key factor in whether girls remain on STEM-related career trajectories (Florida State University, 2017). WME's discussion points direct us back to our role as educators:
- What role can mathematics teacher educators play in developing and strengthening K-12 girls' mathematics confidence and identity?
- What are effective instructional practices that support the development of girls' mathematical confidence, identity and sense of agency?
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What's Happening in Mathematics Education
The Association of Mathematics
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Subscribe to eNews
All NCSM members are automatically subscribed to NCSM's eNews. Anyone can subscribe to this electronic newsletter (members and non-members).
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eNews Editor
Mona Toncheff is pleased to be NCSM's eNews Editor.
Please feel free to contact Mona
at
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Welcome to the April 2017
eNews
The NCSM eNews is published monthly. Please consider forwarding this eNews to a colleague-let's get everyone involved in the conversation! Thank you for allowing me to serve as your eNews Editor the past two years; help me in welcoming the new NCSM eNews Editor, Mona Toncheff!
Babette M. Benken, eNews Editor
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Message from the NCSM President, Connie Schrock
It was a pleasure to see so many of you at the 2017 Annual Conference in San Antonio, TX. The great work by the conference committee produced an outstanding conference. I want to thank the entire team for their effort and dedication. Special thanks to Cynthia Schneider and Mona Toncheff for their leadership. The new ideas for this year produced rave reviews. Thank you to all that attended, presented sessions, and assisted in making this one of the most successful conferences ever.
As we move into summer, consider joining us in Bangor, Maine for the Summer Leadership Academy. The theme for this year is:
Mathematics Leadership in a Time of Change: Building Leaders at all Levels. The dates for the Academy are July 24-26, 2017. Please don't miss your chance to learn in a beautiful area of the country.
Also, remember that the speaker proposals for the 2018 50th Annual Conference in Washington D.C. are due by June 1, 2017. We look forward to celebrating with you next year.
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Highlights from the 49th NCSM Annual Conference!
Sunday:
We had two wonderful preconference sessions. One by Katey Arrington and Shelly LeDoux and the other by Jennifer Wilson and Jill Gough.
Monday: Eli Luberoff, Jo Boaler, Graham Fletcher and so many more...need we say more? If you weren't here this you, you need to be in Washing ton D.C, in 2018!
Tuesday
: Steve Leinwand's session overflowed with interest about his 10 Instructional Tweaks and Wade Ellis and Gail Burrill shared six principles that support learning. Florence Glanfield was the Kay Gilliland Equity Award presenter and spoke on mathematics education through the lens of indigenous perspectives. We also recognized the
2017 Iris Carl Travel Grant Awardees during
the luncheon on Tuesday,
Dr. Matthew Beyranevand - Massachusetts,
Ms. Judith Falk - Michigan, and
Dr. Bernard Frost - South Carolina.
Wednesday:
Starting with an invigorating networking breakfast, some attendees in the next session saw
Jennifer Bay-Williams knock it out of the park with some engaging ideas, connecting numeracy ideas from elementary to high school! Tim Kanold received the prestigious
Ross Taylor/Glen Gilbert National Leadership Award
. Finally, John Staley passed the presidential gavel to Connie Schrock.
With a mix of new and returning presenters, the 1,800 conference attendees in San Antonio learned about cutting edge research, gained insights from well-known practitioners and met up with friends from across the country. Remember that session handouts will be posted to the NCSM website, and this year we will also be sharing video clips from selected sessions.
Thank you to all who presented; your information will support and inspire leaders across the country. Speaker handouts are posted to the
NCSM website. Thank you also to the 100+ volunteers that helped make the 49th Annual Conference a wonderful success.
See you next year in Washington, D.C. for our 50th Anniversary!
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Call for Nominations for NCSM Board positions
Nominations for 2018 NSCM board are listed below and the job descriptions can be found online.
- President Elect
- Second Vice President
- Regional Director, Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut Territory, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory)
- Regional Director, Southern 1 (Bermuda, Florida, Georgia, Military AA: APO/FPO, Puerto Rico, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virgin Islands, Virginia)
- Regional Director, Western 1 (Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming)
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Time to Grow Professionally with NCSM!
Mathematics Leadership in a Time of Change: Building Leaders at all Levels
NCSM is striving to provide year-long professional learning opportunities that follow the theme of Mathematics Leadership in a Time of Change: Building Leaders at all Levels utilizing It's Time and PRIME resources. Please join us for one or more events!
Summer Leadership Academy
What: Summer Leadership Academy
Where: Four Points Sheridan at the Bangor Airport, Bangor, Maine
When: July 24-26, 2017
Theme: Teaching and Learning Leadership in Mathematics
Fall Seminar
What: Chicago Fall Seminar
Where: Chicago, IL (location TBD)
When: November 29, 2017
Theme: Leadership for Equity and Social Justice in Mathematics
Threaded throughout all professional learning opportunities will be shifting mindsets and beliefs about teaching and learning mathematics.
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Welcome the Newest NCSM Affiliates
At the 49th NCSM Annual Conference in San Antonio, approximately 30 affiliate leaders attended the early Monday morning Affiliate Leaders meeting.
At the Tuesday NCSM business meeting, NCSM welcomed eight new affiliates and they were recognized and certificates of affiliates were presented to the affiliate representatives.
The eight new affiliates are:
- Association of Mathematics Teachers of New Jersey (AMTNJ)
- British Columbia Association of Mathematics Teachers (BCAMT)
- Delaware Mathematics Coalition (DMC)
- Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics (ICTM)
- Rhode Island Mathematics Teachers Association (RIMTA)
- South Carolina Leaders of Mathematics Education (SCLME)
- Vermont Council of Teachers of Mathematics (VCTM)
- Women and Mathematics Education (WME)
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