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Mathematics Education Concentration

The programs in Mathematics Education at UT are coordinated and taught by a collaborative group of professors, adjunct instructors, post-doctoral fellows and graduate assistants. With a shortage of teachers of mathematics at all levels, our programs are critical to meet the growing needs of society.

As stated in the Professional Standards for Teaching Mathematics from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, our pre-licensure programs aim to develop mathematical power for all students by  producing elementary, middle and secondary teachers who are proficient in —

  • selecting appropriate and significant mathematical tasks to engage students’ interests and intellect;
  • orchestrating classroom environment and discourse in ways that promote the investigation and growth of mathematical ideas;
  • using, and helping students use, technology and other tools to pursue mathematical investigations;
  • seeking, and helping students, seek connections to previous and developing knowledge.

The Masters programs seek to move a competent teacher toward the role of Master teacher, defined as one who not only teaches well but can communicate to others through mentoring, etc., by providing opportunities to –

  • examine and revise their assumptions about the nature of mathematics, how it should be taught, and how students learn;
  • observe and analyze a range of approaches to mathematics teaching and learning, focusing on the mathematics, discourse, environment and assessment;
  • work with a diverse range of students individually, in small groups and in large class settings with guidance from and in collaboration with mathematics education professionals;
  • analyze and evaluate the appropriateness and effectiveness of their teaching;
  • develop and communicate a disposition toward teaching mathematics that mirrors its importance.

The doctoral program builds on the previous work to produce individuals with the knowledge, skills and dispositions to prepare beginning teachers, master teachers and professional educators and to produce research that furthers the knowledge base in the teaching and learning of mathematics. Students are required to develop a mastery of mathematics that will give them credibility with a mathematics department (usually at least a 18 hours of graduate level mathematics), to develop knowledge of the mathematics curriculum and pedagogy pre-K through 16, and to gain a knowledge of the current status of research in the teaching and learning of mathematics.

 

 

Kids Learning Math

Mathematics Education Program

 

Contact the Department of Theory and Practice in Teacher Education

A204 Jane and David Bailey Education Complex
1122 Volunteer Boulevard
Knoxville, Tennessee
37996-3442

Phone: 865-974-6228
Fax: 865-974-6302
tallmon@utk.edu