Gutiérrez’s equity framework, derived from mathematics education research, defines equity in terms of four dimensions: , , , and . and yield outcomes that reify the while and transform schooling to redistribute power. We use Gutiérrez’s equity framework to study discourse about equity from 36 high school physics teachers who participated in an equity-focused professional development workshop. We found that the teachers’ equity discourse often includes aspects of the identity dimension, yet teachers tend to frame identity using what we call a deficit lens. That is, although teachers agree that student identity matters in equity work, they often treat student identity as a way to support and and as a reflection of why students are not “successful.” In Gutiérrez’s words, this means centering equity work on teaching students to “play the game.” We also found that the power dimension, which supports students in “changing the game,” tends to be rare in teachers’ discourse about equity and is often presented with varied interpretations. Our findings then suggest that teachers’ equity framings of identity and power reflect physics education scholarship and dominant narratives, which leads to the call for a collective effort to challenge and reframe identity in physics in relation to power.
more »
« less
Physics teachers’ conceptions of equity: Access and achievement
Physics teachers’ definitions of equity inform how they identify inequity and take action to transform it. In this paper, we adapted Gutiérrez’s equity framework from mathematics education research to physics education research. The framework defines equity in terms of four dimensions: access , achievement , identity , and power . We used this equity framework to characterize the equity conceptions shared by 23 teachers who participated in an equity-focused professional development. We found that the access and achievement dimensions of equity are popular with teachers compared to the identity and power dimensions, and that teachers share a common understanding of conceptions of access and achievement in ways that is consistent with educational literature and discourses.
more »
« less
- Award ID(s):
- 1936601
- PAR ID:
- 10428559
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Frontiers in Education
- Volume:
- 8
- ISSN:
- 2504-284X
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
More Like this
-
-
Olanoff, D.; Johnson, K.; & Spitzer, S. (Ed.)In this paper, we describe the theory guiding the development of microlearning modules connecting noticing and equity in mathematics. Gutiérrez’s (2009) four dimensions of equity framework is used to inform the modules. The professional noticing of children’s mathematical thinking (Jacobs, Lamb, & Philipp, 2010) is also woven into the module development. We analyze data from preservice elementary teachers’ ideas about equity and responses to a video to inform our project and discuss the importance of making equity explicit in mathematics methods courses. Results indicate that preservice elementary teachers’ ideas of equity primarily fall into the dominant axes of access and achievement, but also show evidence of the critical axes of identity and power in responses to the classroom video.more » « less
-
Olanoff, D. (Ed.)In this paper, we describe the theory guiding the development of microlearning modules connecting noticing and equity in mathematics. Gutiérrez’s (2009) four dimensions of equity framework is used to inform the modules. The professional noticing of children’s mathematical thinking (Jacobs, Lamb, & Philipp, 2010) is also woven into the module development. We analyze data from preservice elementary teachers’ ideas about equity and responses to a video to inform our project and discuss the importance of making equity explicit in mathematics methods courses. Results indicate that preservice elementary teachers’ ideas of equity primarily fall into the dominant axes of access and achievement, but also show evidence of the critical axes of identity and power in responses to the classroom video.more » « less
-
Research in science education with multilingual learners (MLs) has expanded rapidly. This rapid expansion can be situated within a larger dialogue about what it means to provide minoritized students with an equitable education. Whereas some conceptions of equity focus on ensuring all students have access to the knowledge, practices, and language normatively valued in K‐12 schools (equity as access), increasingly prominent conceptions focus on transforming those knowledge, practices, and language in ways that center minoritized students and their communities (equity as transformation). In this article, we argue that conceptions of equity provide a useful lens for understanding emerging research in science education with MLs and for charting a research agenda. We begin by tracing how conceptions of equity have evolved in parallel across STEM and multilingual education. Then, we provide an overview of recent developments from demographic, theoretical, and policy perspectives. In the context of these developments, we provide a conceptual synthesis of emerging research by our team of early‐career scholars in three areas: (a) learning, (b) assessment, and (c) teacher education. Within each area, we unpack the research efforts in terms of how they attend to equity as access while pushing toward equity as transformation. Finally, we propose a research agenda for science education with MLs that builds on and extends these efforts. We close by offering recommendations for making this research agenda coherent and impactful: (a) being explicit about our conceptions of equity, (b) paying attention to the interplay of structure and agency, and (c) promoting interdisciplinary collaboration.more » « less
-
The Thinking With Algebra (TWA) project, which consists of a developmental algebra curriculum and supporting professional development, has been integrated into diverse algebra courses to support undergraduate students’ success in college algebra (Feikes et al., 2024). This paper examines the equity-oriented instructional practices integrated into TWA to support strengthened equity outcomes among students. This project draws on sociopolitical equity scholarship (Rubel, 2017), including a framework consisting of achievement, access, identity, and power (Gutiérrez, 2012). Instructor and student data indicate positive changes in student achievement and identity outcomes. Future directions include expanding the integration of equity-oriented instructional practices and investigation of student equity outcomes. Applying an equity lens to TWA is critical given the barriers students, particularly minoritized students, face in algebra.more » « less
An official website of the United States government

