Mathematics Learning Community (MLC)

A growing consensus in the research points to the need for coordinated, classroom- and content-focused professional development that links challenging learning standards and curriculum to solve the specific problems hindering the advancement of students of mathematics (Bransford et.al., 2000; Olson, 2002, Smith, 2001, Hill and Cohen, 2000, Whitehurst, 2002; Wiley and Yoon, 1995; Kennedy, 1998; NRC Mathematics Learning Study Committee, 2000; DuFour, 1998).  The Regional Science Resource Center (RSRC) has developed Mathematics Learning Community (MLC) professional development curriculum materials to help teachers and schools make these critical connections. 

These materials provide the structure, content and training to facilitate school-based discussions about how students understand, express and think about mathematics.  Three modules of the MLC materials allow teachers to probe student thinking about proportional reasoning, data analysis, number sense and pre-algebra by learning how to examine student work with a diagnostic eye followed by meaningful collegial conversations. 

The protocols, student work and guiding questions allow groups of teachers to uncover and explore collaboratively how students think and learn about specific mathematics concepts.  With this deeper understanding of how students perceive and apply a concept, teachers are better able to further develop students' understanding in a classroom setting.

"Creating and Facilitating Mathematics Learning Communities Focusing on Students' Work"
Presented by Dona Apple and Wendy Cleaves at the NCTM Regional Conference, Boston MA on October 22, 2009
Mathematics learning communities use students' work as a means to connect professional development to the classroom. The communities stimulate authentic discussions about how students learn mathematics, with the goal of improving students' understanding of mathematics.

For more information about the Mathematics Learning Community professional development materials and the process of implementing them, please contact Wendy Cleaves at 508-856-5348 or wendy.cleaves@umassmed.edu.