Research Seminar Series: How Can Math be Racist?: Research in Equity, Technology, and Mathematics Education
All dates for this event occur in the past.
Guest Speaker:
Teddy Chao
Department of Teaching and Learning
The Ohio State University
Abstract:
Mathematics is often presented as a culturally free discipline. Yet, the way mathematics is taught often ends up sorting children along categories of race, gender, and socioeconomic status. These structures of power prioritize mathematics knowledge representing specific cultures. In this talk, Dr. Chao presents his work engaging mathematics teachers to enact an equity-based pedagogy focusing on Reflecting, Noticing, and Connecting with Community. How can mathematics teachers build their mathematics teaching around an understanding of existing power structures in mathematics education and based upon their students’ community and family knowledge?
Bio:
Theodore Chao is an assistant professor of Mathematics Education in the Department of Teaching and Learning at The Ohio State University. His research agenda involves engaging all students and teachers regardless of social identity (race, gender, socioeconomic status, etc.), to learn and teach mathematics, particularly through technology. He uses Photovoice interviews to explore how mathematics teacher of color connect their mathematics teacher identities with racialized social identities. He also builds mobile app technology to help children share mathematical strategies with each other, opening up windows for teachers to listen to their children’s mathematical thinking. Dr. Chao has published in journals such as Investigations in Mathematics Learning, Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education, and Teaching Children Mathematics. Dr. Chao was recently awarded an NSF CAREER grant. He has also been a Principal Investigator on two U.S. Department of Education funded projects exploring how online, game-based mathematics curriculum helps elementary teachers’ structure and orchestrate rich mathematical classroom discussions. Dr. Chao has taught courses such as Elementary Mathematics Methods, A Critical History of STEM Education, and App Development in STEM Education. Dr. Chao is currently an editor for the Postscripts section of Teaching Children Mathematics (TCM), an editorial panel member of Mathematics Teacher Educator (MTE), a steering committee member of the North American Chapter of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education (PME-NA), and an organizer for the Free Minds, Free People (FMFP) conference.