Developing Mathematical Ideas Facilitation Courses

We are honored to have Deborah Schifter, one of the authors of the DMI series, running our facilitator training. Deborah’s work has influenced so many great leaders in mathematics education. Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity!

The facilitation work is embedded within one of the DMI modules. Prior experience with the specific DMI module is preferred, but not required before attending a DMI-F institute. DMI-F activities focus on the central mathematical ideas of the module; interactions with participants in whole group, in small groups, and through writing; practice facilitation; and strategic planning with other team members.

The focus of DMI-Facilitation Institute is on the following two DMI Modules:

• Building a System of Tens: Calculation with Whole Numbers and Decimals (BST)
  Participants explore the base-ten structure of the number system, consider how that structure is exploited in multi-digit computational procedures, and examine how basic concepts of whole numbers reappear when working with decimals. (New 2017 edition available from NCTM)
• Making Meaning for Operations: In the Domain of Whole Numbers and Fractions (MMO)
  Participants examine the actions and situations modeled by the four basic operations. The seminar begins with a view of young children’s counting strategies as they encounter word problems, moves to an examination of the four basic operations on whole numbers, and revisit the operations in the context of rational numbers. (New 2017 edition available from NCTM)

If a participant would like to focus on one of our other DMI modules, arrangements can be made by contacting us via email at graduateadmissions@mtholyoke.edu. The other modules include:

• Examining Features of Shape (EFS)
  Participants examine aspects of 2D and 3D shapes, develop geometric vocabulary, and explore both definitions and properties of geometric objects. The seminar includes a study of angle, similarity, congruence, and the relationships between 3D objects and their 2D representations.
• Measuring Space in One, Two, and Three Dimensions (MS1213)
  Participants examine different aspects of size, develop facility in composing and decomposing shapes, and apply these skills to make sense of formulas for area and volume. They also explore conceptual issues of length, area, and volume, as well as their complex inter-relationships.
• Working with Data (WwD)
  Participants work with the collection, representation, description, and interpretation of data. They learn what various graphs and statistical measures show about features of the data, study how to summarize data when comparing groups, and consider whether the data provide insight into the questions that led to data collection.
• Reasoning Algebraically about Operations: In the Domain of Whole Numbers and Integers (RAO)
  Participants examine generalizations at the heart of the study of operations in the elementary grades. They express these generalizations in common language and in algebraic notation, develop arguments based on representations of the operations, study what it means to prove a generalization, and extend their generalizations and arguments when the domain under consideration expands from whole numbers to integers.
• Patterns, Functions, and Change (PFC)
  Participants discover how the study of repeating patterns and number sequences can lead to ideas of functions, learn how to read tables and graphs to interpret phenomena of change, and use algebraic notation to write function rules. With a particular emphasis on linear functions, participants also explore quadratic and exponential functions and examine how various features of a function are seen in graphs, tables, or rules.

Learn about schedule, cost, credits and other details

The institute can also be customized for groups with specific needs and goals.

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