Concept-Based Mathematics August 1st - 31st 2021 Closed

Everything you need to know about Concept-Based Mathematics: Teaching for Deep Understanding

 

Concept-Based Mathematics: Teaching for Deep Understanding Online Course August 1st -31st 2021

This online course will help you to plan and develop a unit that will encourage your students to experience more light bulbs moments. When we teach for deep understanding students are more motivated, engaged and encouraged to critically think, apply and transfer their learning to different contexts. In this course, you will collaborate with other international educators to develop a 6-8 week unit based on the grade level you teach and on a topic of your choice.

Learning from week to week is asynchronous and there will be individual live feedback synchronous sessions given to each unit.

Registration Investment USD$590

Enrollments close on August 1st 2021

Course Start Date: August 1st 2021

Course Finish date: August 31st 2021

Compulsory Text: Concept-Based Mathematics: Teaching for Deep Understanding Please purchase here before the course. Available on Amazon here

This book contains secondary math examples but is 90% Prek-12. Early years and primary math examples will be provided during the course.

Traditional curriculum focuses on rules and procedures with little attention paid to the conceptual relationships of mathematics—and mathematics is a language of conceptual relationships. Traditional curriculum often assumes the deep understanding of concepts, and fails to teach for transferability, or to consider context.

With the exponential growth of information and knowledge students need to move to a higher level of abstraction. We need to develop students’ ability to critically think and reason, in order to solve complex problems and create new ideas.

This four week online course will cover the concept-based curriculum design model specifically for mathematics. All content will be based on Jennifer Wathall's book "Concept Based Mathematics; Teaching for Deep Understanding in Secondary Schools". This online course can be viewed on any mobile device connected to the internet.

This online course will address the following questions:

Why is it important for students to learn conceptually?

What are the facts, processes and concepts in mathematics?

How do I craft generalizations in mathematics?

How do I craft quality guiding questions?

How do I plan units of work for concept-based mathematics curriculum?

How do I captivate and engage students? Practical strategies for creating rich learning experiences in the classroom

After this course you will be able to:

Write quality generalizations and guiding questions

Use a unit web to plan a concept based mathematics unit

Design engaging, rich and inquiry-based learning experiences for your students

Use formative assessment strategies to inform teaching and learning

Embed the use of technology effectively to enhance conceptual understanding

Potential Audience:

Early years, primary and all secondary mathematics teachers. Mathematics resources will be differentiated for K-12 teachers.


Your Instructor


Dr Jennifer Chang Wathall
Dr Jennifer Chang Wathall

I was born to be a teacher. I knew I wanted to be a math teacher from an early age and always had a passion for teaching. I love being in the classroom and just spending time with my students with the goal of inspiring a love for learning. Nothing excites me more than seeing those light bulb moments during a lesson when students have a gleam in their eye because they get it. That gleam tells me my students understand on a deeper level than what a textbook or video can explain. I have been so lucky that all of my life I knew what my vocation would be.

Currently, I am an independent educational consultant, author and part-time instructor for the University of Hong Kong. With over 25 years experience in the education field, I have worked in several international schools including South Island School, Hong Kong and The United Nations International School, New York and Island School, Hong Kong.

In the international arena, I have presented numerous keynote addresses and workshops about concept-based mathematics and concept-based curriculum and instruction to Pre-K-12 educators. I have a degree in Pure and Applied Mathematics from the University of Sydney and completed post-graduate studies at the University of Hong Kong. Based on my Masters of Arts and Doctorate in Educational Technology I also facilitate concept-based mathematics online courses, give talks about innovative uses of digital instructional media and how to effectively launch a 1:1 program.

As a qualified International Baccalaureate workshop leader (Mathematics: Standard and Higher Level, Concepts and Inquiry in the Diploma Program and Approaches to Teaching and Learning") I have delivered numerous workshops in the Asia Pacific region. My role as a field representative for the IB Asia Pacific serves as part of the quality assurance framework. I have been invited to give several talks at the IB Asia Pacific and IB Americas annual conferences.

I am a certified trainer in the DISCtm behaviour assessment tool and a certified independent consultant in "Concept-Based Curriculum Design" by Dr H. Lynn Erickson. I enjoy my work as an independent consultant helping all discipline areas and schools transition to concept-based curriculum and instruction. My skills as a certified Performance Coach allow me to facilitate transition and change.

I had the honour of consulting for the IB on the new diploma mathematics courses for first teaching in 2019 to develop a concept-based mathematics curriculum model. I collaborated with a wonderful team of experienced IB teachers from around the world to co-author four student reference books for the new IB Mathematics courses with Oxford University Press.

My best-selling book titled "Concept-Based Mathematics: Teaching for Deep Understanding in Secondary Schools" was released in February 2016.


Testimonials

"I am an elementary math consultant with my school division and took Jennifer’s course hoping to find ways I could help teachers balance conceptual and procedural understanding. I walked away from this course with a solid understanding of how to plan a concept based unit. Jennifer is always available to provide feedback that gently pushes teachers to reflect on unit planning to help fine tune the generalizations and questions. She was readily available both online and through a scheduled face to face meeting which was extremely helpful. My time spent on this course helped me grow and improve professionally."

Nicole Lamoureux, Elementary Math and Science Consultant, Alberta Canada

"I attended a workshop on Concept-Based Mathematics in Luxembourg facilitated by Jennifer Chang Wathall in January 2017. Jennifer does such a great job of addressing and allowing time for everyone's thoughts and questions, while also keeping us on track to dig into the good stuff. It was definitely a productive, worthwhile, wonderful 2 days! Thanks again for a great weekend, Jennifer! I'm looking forward to digging into all of the resources, synthesizing my notes from the weekend and sharing with my curriculum heads and math colleagues."

Laura Pitale

High School Math Teacher

American School of Warsaw, Poland

This online course was a great experience. I learned a lot by actively engaging with teachers from all over the world including Germany, Switzerland, USA, India, Australia, Namibia etc. Every feedback given to us by Jennifer during this course was invaluable.

I feel so much more confident to plan my units now. I am looking forward to sharing all the knowledge I gained from this course with the other math teachers in my school.

Telma Largent
Mathematics Teacher, Corbett Preparatory, USA

Frequently Asked Questions


When does the course start and finish?
The course starts on August 1st 2021 and will run in a cohort format. The course finishes on August 31st 2021 where each participant who fulfils the requirements of the course will receive a certificate of participation for 24 hours of professional learning.
What currency is the course fee?
The course fee in is USD.

This course is closed for enrollment.