Summary of SyMETRI Meeting: April 22nd, 2024 by Qiaochu Xu

Presenter/Guest Speaker: Danielle Antoniazzi from the Department of Curriculum and Pedagogy, Faculty of Education, UBC
Date: April 22nd, 2024
Host: Dr. Cynthia Nicol

At the SyMETRI meeting on April 22nd, 2024, master’s student Danielle Antoniazzi presented her capstone project, “What Even is Math?”, which investigates middle school students’ perceptions of mathematics and their perceptions of mathematics learning when participating in collaborative, cross-curricular projects. The presentation provided some context for her capstone project, then review the methodologies and key findings of her research.

At Danielle’s school, there is a noticeable gender disparity in enrollment for certain STEM classes. In the Chemistry class, the student body comprises 5 female students and 6 male students, suggesting a relatively balanced gender distribution. However, the Pre-calculus 12 class presents a stark contrast, with no female students and all 6 spots occupied by male students. This significant difference highlights potential gender-based preferences or barriers within the school’s STEM curriculum, necessitating Danielle’s further investigation and action to encourage more balanced participation.

Key findings of Danielle’s capstone indicate that both female and male students hold a limited view of mathematics. Female students demonstrate lower confidence, interest, and persistence, along with less expert-like attitudes towards mathematics.

Here are some slides from her presentation:

Members of SyMETRI discussed their experiences learning and teaching mathematics at the high school level. They noted that their confidence, mindset, and interest shifted as courses became more challenging. Questions were also raised about how the results compare with existing literature, and what modifications Danielle would consider if she were to implement the study again in a single-gender school.

Bio

Danielle Antoniazzi is a MEd student in the Department of Curriculum & Pedagogy in the Faculty of Education at UBC. Her interests include promoting gender equity in STEM and math education. She is the senior math and science teacher at Kamloops Christian School.

Summary of SyMETRI Meeting: April 8th, 2024 by Qiaochu Xu

Presenter/Guest Speaker: Lida Espinosa from the Department of Curriculum and Pedagogy, Faculty of Education, UBC
Date: April 8th, 2024
Host: Dr. Cynthia Nicol

At the SyMETRI meeting on April 8th, 2024, master’s student Lida Espinosa shared her experiences as a mature student and discussed the rewarding yet challenging aspects of working on a capstone project that requires ethical approval. Lida shared her experiences and offered some tips for students who will need to obtain ethical approval (BREB) for their studies. Currently, the project is in the initial stage of submitting the RISE application.

Her project is titled “Counting on Experience: Exploring Mathematics Utilization in the Lives of Older Adults.” For this project, Lida intends to gather stories from adults over the age of 65 about their relationship with mathematics and how they utilize it in their daily tasks. She is curious to discover whether these individuals actively avoid engaging with mathematics, view it as unnecessary, or if their attitudes towards mathematics deter them from exploring math-related topics.

Here are some slides from Lida’s presentation:

During the SyMETRI meeting, members participated in an engaging discussion about alternative terms for referring to the demographic group targeted in Lida’s project. Suggestions included “mature adults,” “elders,” and simply “people over age 65.” Another suggestion was to describe them as “people born before 1960,” which emphasizes the subtle differences between these terms.

Bio:

Lida serves as a Senior Learning Consultant at a software company in Vancouver, BC, Canada, where she oversees the development of training courses in a multicultural environment. She is currently pursuing an MEd in Mathematics Education. Previously, while living in Colombia, South America, she taught mathematics to high school students. When not working or studying, she enjoys spending time with her son and husband. Their favorite activities include walking, going to the beach, sleeping, and watching movies.