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This study explores the evolving approaches of eight foundational math course coordinators, uncovering key insights into their coordination strategies and mechanisms to enhance their efforts. These coordinators oversee critical courses, including College Algebra, Quantitative Reasoning, Introductory Statistics, Math for Architecture and Construction Management, Precalculus, Calculus, and mathematics courses for prospective elementary teachers. Through a dataset derived from surveys, self-reflections, and professional development workshops, we investigated their perspectives and experiences as coordinators. We analyzed data from both the coordinators and the graduate student instructors they oversee. Specifically, we highlight the integration of instructional routines that promote mathematical reasoning and the development of course-specific dynamic calendar systems, both of which have the potential to improve the instructional effectiveness and coordination of foundational math courses. Our findings offer fresh perspectives on how to better support course coordinators in their crucial role, ultimately benefiting both instructors and students. 

We aimed to get a better understanding of participants’ (eight foundational math course [FMC] coordinators’) teaching approaches. In the first year of this grant project, we primarily gathered data (through surveys, self-reflections, and class observations) on these individuals as instructors. These data were compiled into narrative summaries for each participant and analyzed and compared. We discuss our findings from this analysis, using the instructional triangle as a framework, and particularly focusing on instructor-student interactions. This project aims to develop an understanding of what is needed to support instructional change in FMCs by evaluating how math-specific professional development (PD) cycles affect FMC coordinators’ teaching practices and perspectives. We seek audience feedback on potential next steps towards fostering effective instructor-student interactions and future PD cycles. 

We aimed to get a better understanding of participants’ (eight foundational math course [FMC] coordinators’) teaching approaches. In the first year of this grant project, we primarily gathered data (through surveys, self-reflections, and class observations) on these individuals as instructors. These data were compiled into narrative summaries for each participant and analyzed and compared. We discuss our findings from this analysis, using the instructional triangle as a framework, and particularly focusing on instructor-student interactions. This project aims to develop an understanding of what is needed to support instructional change in FMCs by evaluating how math-specific professional development (PD) cycles affect FMC coordinators’ teaching practices and perspectives. We seek audience feedback on potential next steps towards fostering effective instructor-student interactions and future PD cycles. 

This chapter focuses on accessible active learning (AL) strategies that promote equitable and effective student-centered instruction for higher education. Although there is not a consensus definition of AL across disciplines, principles of AL include attention to student engagement with content, peer-to-peer interactions, instructor uses of student thinking, and instructor attention to equity. A variety of AL strategies vary in complexity, time, and resources, and instructors can build up repertoires of such teaching practices. The field needs cultural change that moves away from lecture and toward AL and student engagement as the norm for equitable and effective teaching. Although such cultural change needs to include instructor professional learning about AL strategies, it also needs attention to collective beliefs, power dynamics, and structures that support (or inhibit) equitable AL implementation. This chapter provides frameworks for sustainable change to using AL in higher education, as well as research-based findings around which AL strategies are easy on-ramps for novice instructors. This chapter also provides a few specific examples of structures that support AL—course coordination and peer mentoring—and provides questions one may pose in attempting to spur cultural change that centers AL. 

One of the most used game design elements in gamification design is leaderboard, a scoreboard showing participants’ current scores and rankings. Though many studies suggest the positive effects of leaderboard on participants’ learning and motivation (Kalogiannakis, Papadakis, & Zourmpakis, 2021), research also shows that not all students benefit from the use of leaderboard (Andrade, Mizoguchi, & Isotani, 2016; Nicholson, 2013). Based on self-determination theory (SDT) (Ryan & Deci, 2017), we designed a study where undergraduate math students completed a leaderboard-based review, and addressed two questions: (RQ1) How are students’ perceived autonomy and competence associated with their enjoyment and intention of continued participation? (RQ2) How is student actual competence associated with their enjoyment and intention of continued participation? 

One of the most used game design elements in gamification design is leaderboard, a scoreboard showing participants’ current scores and rankings. Though many studies suggest the positive effects of leaderboard on participants’ learning and motivation (Kalogiannakis, Papadakis, & Zourmpakis, 2021), research also shows that not all students benefit from the use of leaderboard (Andrade, Mizoguchi, & Isotani, 2016; Nicholson, 2013). Based on self-determination theory (SDT) (Ryan & Deci, 2017), we designed a study where undergraduate math students completed a leaderboard-based review, and addressed two questions: (RQ1) How are students’ perceived autonomy and competence associated with their enjoyment and intention of continued participation? (RQ2) How is student actual competence associated with their enjoyment and intention of continued participation?