2016 Research-to-Practice Conference

Designing for STEM: Teaching Mathematics Outside the Box

Presentations now available

What Participants are Saying

  • I became much more passionate about math education and found a renewed interest in teaching. The conference showed me that teaching can be a complex and research-driven career with high-level challenges.
  • RME provided me with hands-on materials that I could use to teach students conceptually. Now, as I support teachers across Dallas county, I'm able to share these resources with thousands of teachers.
  • It [RME Conference] has provided me with some insight on how to effectively coach my teachers in preparing students for college. I was able to demonstrate strategies that would help teachers create more rigorous lessons in math.
  • I have really learned a lot and it has been great to think deeply and critically about math. Last year during lunch the speaker referenced a book titled "Making it Stick" and I immediately bought a copy and loved it! Such good information.
  • I was really encouraged by a speaker who is an engineer a couple of years ago, Dr. Marc Christensen, who prompted us to encourage our students to solve a problem as many ways as we can think of. I still re-read my notes from time to time.
  • It affirms my beliefs in how student learn mathematics.

Location and Date

Exterior of Dallas Hall and surrounding lawn

天美传媒

A nationally ranked private university with seven degree-granting schools, 天美传媒 a distinguished center for teaching and research located near the heart of Dallas.

Friday, February 19, 2016

Hughes-Trigg building map

Parking map

Speakers

Headshot of Oswaldo Alvarenga STEM Executive Director, Dallas ISD

Oswaldo Alvarenga
STEM Executive Director, Dallas ISD

Headshot of Jennifer K. Bartkowski CEO, Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas

Jennifer K. Bartkowski
CEO, Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas

Headshot of Allison Burney, Professional Development & Campus-Based Partnerships Manager, Perot Museum of Nature and Science

Allison Burney
Professional Development & Campus-Based Partnerships Manager, Perot Museum of Nature and Science

Headshot of Frederick R. Chang, Ph.D., Professor, Computer Science & Engineering, SMU

Frederick R. Chang, Ph.D.
Professor, Computer Science & Engineering, SMU

Headshot of Simmons School Dean David Chard

David Chard, Ph.D.
Dean, Simmons School of Education, SMU

Headshot of Laura Cole, Middle School Technology & Engineering Design Teacher, Good Shepherd Episcopal School

Laura Cole
Middle School Technology & Engineering Design Teacher, Good Shepherd Episcopal School

Headshot of Marti Copeland, Director of Education, Dallas Zoo

Marti Copeland
Director of Education, Dallas Zoo

Headshot of Koshi Dhingra, Ed.D.  Founder & Director, talkSTEM

Koshi-Dhingra, Ed.D.
Founder & Director, talkSTEM

Headshot of Lisa Dolliver,  Education Specialist, Trinity River Audubon Center

Lisa Dolliver
Education Specialist, Trinity River Audubon Center

Headshot of Anne Marie Fayen, Kosmos Energy STEM Teacher Institute Elementary Coordinator, Perot Museum

Anne Marie Fayen
Kosmos Energy STEM Teacher Institute Elementary Coordinator, Perot Museum

Headshot of Carole Hayata, Ph.D., Mathematics Research Specialist, SMU

Carole Hayata, Ph.D.
Mathematics Research Specialist, SMU

Colin Johnson, Educator Professional Development Supervisor, Dallas Zoo

Colin Johnson
Educator Professional Development Supervisor, Dallas Zoo

Headshot of Jennifer Oliver, Principal, Young Women's Leadership Academy, Grand Prairie ISD

Jennifer Oliver
Principal, Young Women's Leadership Academy, Grand Prairie ISD

Headshot of Dawson Orr, Ph.D. Department Chair, Education Policy & Leadership, Simmons School of Education, SMU

Dawson Orr, Ph.D.
Department Chair, Education Policy & Leadership, Simmons School of Education, SMU

Headshot of Ellen Pool, Teacher, Cannon Elementary, Grapevine-Colleyville ISD

Ellen Pool
Teacher, Cannon Elementary, Grapevine-Colleyville ISD

Headshot of Vicente Reyes, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning, Dallas ISD

Vicente Reyes
Assistant Superintendent of Teaching & Learning, Dallas ISD

Headshot of Rob Rouse, Ph.D., Clinical Assistant Professor, Teaching & Learning, SMU

Rob Rouse, Ph.D.
Clinical Assistant Professor, Teaching & Learning, SMU

Headshot of Karen Thierry, Ph.D., Director of Research & Evaluation, Momentous Institute

Karen Thierry, Ph.D.
Director of Research & Evaluation, Momentous Institute

Headshot of Jennifer Turner, Assistant Principal, Solar Preparatory School for Girls, Dallas ISD

Jennifer Turner
Assistant Principal, Solar Preparatory School for Girls, Dallas ISD

Headshot of Candace Walkington, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Teaching & Learning, SMU

Candace Walkington, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Teaching & Learning, SMU

Agenda

8:15 a.m.

Registration 

Location: Hughes-Trigg Ballroom

8:45 a.m.

Welcome from Dr. Leanne Ketterlin Geller, RME Director & Professor, Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education & Human Development, SMU                            

Location: Theater


9 a.m.

Panel: What is STEM and Why is it Important?

Dean David Chard of the Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education & Human Development will host a panel discussion with Oswaldo Alvarenga, Dr. Frederick Chang, and Dr. Koshi Dhingra on the importance of STEM from multiple perspectives including those of industry, the community, higher education, and K-12 education. 

Location: Theater

10 a.m.

Morning Break

10:15 a.m.

Breakout Sessions


Breakout 1 – Teaching Mathematics Through Garden-based Learning (Elementary School)

Dr. Rob Rouse and his colleagues at REAL School Gardens will present an interactive session on how elementary students can learn mathematics through outdoor and garden education. 

Location: Forum


Breakout 2 – Transforming Mathematics Activities into STEM Activities (Middle School)

Dr. Candace Walkington will present on what STEM integration looks like in the middle school mathematics classroom. The lesson and activities will incorporate the use of Geopanes that teachers can apply immediately in their own school setting. 

Location: Theater


Breakout 3 – Ten Minutes of Code (High School)

Kelly Kutach is the Math Strategy Manager for Texas Instruments and will present a session on coding in the high school mathematics classroom. This hands-on session will focus on helping students spark an interest in coding with a variety of 10-minute activities teachers can do with their students. 

Location: Promenade

11:30 a.m.

Luncheon & Keynote

Dr. Mitchell Nathan will share his experiences in integrating STEM into the K-12 mathematics classroom.

Location: Ballroom

12:45 p.m.

RME Impact Awards Presentation

1:15 p.m.

Breakout Sessions


Breakout 1 – reMAKING Math Education: Moving From Abstract Concepts to Hands-on Learning 

Katie Krummeck and her colleagues at Good Shepherd Episcopal School will discuss the burgeoning use of makerspaces to inform creative problem solving. 

Location: Forum


Breakout 2 – Informal Learning Spaces to Support STEM

Informal learning spaces can ignite a lasting interest with memorable experiences for students embedded in STEM learning. Non-profit leaders including the Girl Scouts of North Texas, the Dallas Zoo, Perot Museum, the Trinity River Audubon Center will participate in a moderated discussion on how integrating informal learning spaces into STEM education can meaningfully support students' learning. 

Location: Theater


Breakout 3 – Engaging Parents in Supporting STEM Education

How to meaningfully engage parents in their role in supporting STEM education can be a challenge. Dr. Karen Thierry from the Momentous Institute and teachers Anne Mechler, Brianna Sanford, and Sarah Sullivan will talk about the Institute's Family STEM Nights and the research behind family engagement. 

Location: Promenade

2:30 p.m.

Break & Registration for Prize Drawing

2:45 p.m.

Panel: Designing STEM-focused Schools - Planning, Doing, Achieving

Dr. Dawson Orr of the department of Education Policy & Leadership will host a panel discussion with Dave Monaco, Jennifer Oliver, Vicente Reyes, and Jennifer Turner about designing STEM-focused schools. The conversation will focus on efforts to plan, implement, and sustain STEM education. 

Location: Theater

3:45 p.m.

Closing Remarks & Prize Drawing

Location: Theater

Leanne Ketterlin Geller, RME Director & Professor, Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education & Human Development, SMU    



Presenting Sponsor

the istation logo

Contributing Sponsors


The Meadows Foundation logo. Serving the people of Texas


The Hoglund Foundation logo


The Reasoning Mind

The ReasoningMind Logo


Contact Us

Questions? Send us an email at rme@smu.edu