2009/02/25

Changing practice, changing minds

I like the title of a new article written by Jeanne Tunks and Kirk Weller, especially the first part of it! Here is the entire title: Changing practice, changing minds, from arithmetical to algebraic thinking: an application of the concerns-based adoption model (CBAM). This article was published online in Educational Studies in Mathematics on Saturday, and it discusses the results of a yearlong innovation program called "Teacher Quality Grant". And, just to avoid any misunderstandings: it is not only the title of the article I find interesting. The article itself is very interesting, and the program described also appears to be quite interesting. Here is the abstract of the article:
This study examines the process of change among grade 4 teachers (students aged 9–10 years) who participated in a yearlong Teacher Quality Grant innovation program. The concerns-based adoption model (CBAM), which informed the design and implementation of the program, was used to examine the process of change. Two questions guided the investigation: (1) How did teachers’ concerns about and levels of use of the innovation evolve during the course of the project? (2) What changes in teachers’ perceptions and practices arose as a result of the innovation? Results showed that several of the teachers’ concerns evolved from self/task toward impact. With continued support, several participants achieved routine levels of use, which they sustained beyond the project.


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