VMT CSCL Workshop June 2004

VMT Workshop June Prior Research at The Math Forum System of Formative Evaluation Theory Driven-Individual/Culture Multiple Methodologies Employed Participatory in Design Understanding Online Community Building and its Relationship to Learning

VMT Workshop June Research Question I Does the Forum provide a meaningfully different type of learning tool/enhancement for mathematics education? What kind of a resource does the Internet provide for teachers, students, and/or parents and other citizens? What kind of facilitation, adjustments of existing resources and/or mentoring relationships need to be made to meet the strengths and needs of different users? What is the impact of the Internet on the development of mathematical thinking?

VMT Workshop June Research Question II What role does the concept of community play in Forum development? Additionally, what leads to institutional sustainability and growth, volunteer participation and collaboration, and partnerships for a virtual resource center? What are the usage and changed usage patterns of different groups of participants? What adjustments are necessitated by the pressures of scaling up and simultaneously developing a self-sustaining infrastructure? What is the impact of scaling up on project development, partnerships, and Forum staff organization?

VMT Workshop June Research Question III Taking the Forum as an exemplar of a link between research and practice, what new potential does the internet provide for linking research and practice? What is the relation between research in both mathematics learning and student cognition and ongoing practice as reflected in Forum-based: project development, student learning, curriculum development, professional development?

VMT Workshop June Theoretical Frame Interest and Motivation Research Social Networks and the Social Construction of Community Imagination of Community Activity Theory and Cultural Psychology Socio-Cognitive Approaches to Culture Information Society/Globalization Theory

VMT Workshop June Methodological Frame Quasi-Experimental Research looking at learning in social Context Online Questionnaires Focus Groups In-depth Interviews Ethnographic data collection Quantitative and Qualitative analysis of video taped classes and online discussion groups

VMT Workshop June Selected Publications Renninger, K. A. (2003). A three-phase evaluation strategy for educational impact. White Paper written for NSF NSDL Evaluation Workshop. Renninger, K. A., & Farra, L. (2003). Mentor-participant exchange in the Ask Dr. Math service: design and implementation considerations. In M. A. Mardis (Ed.) Developing Digital Libraries for K-12 Education. ERIC Monograph Series pp Renninger, K.A., Farra, L., & Feldman-Riordan, C. (2000). The impact of The Math Forum’s Problems of the Week on students’ mathematical thinking. Proceedings of ICLS Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum. Renninger, K. A. & Shumar, W. (in press). What do they want? Why do they come? Participation at The Math Forum. In J. Weiss, J. Nolan, & P. Trifonas, International Handbook of Virtual Learning Environments. Amsterdam: Kluwer Press. Renninger, K. A. & Shumar, W. (2004). The centrality of culture and community to participant learning at and with The Math Forum. In S. Barab, R. Kling, & J. Gray (Eds.), Designing for virtual communities in the service of learning (pp ). New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.

VMT Workshop June Selected Publications Continued Renninger, K.A. & Shumar, W. (2002). Community building with and for teachers: The Math Forum as a resource for teacher professional development. In K.A. Renninger & W. Shumar (Eds.), Building virtual communities: Learning and change in cyberspace (pp 60-95). New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Shumar, W. & Renninger, K.A. (2002). On community building. In K.A. Renninger & W. Shumar (Eds.), Building virtual communities: Learning and change in cyberspace. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Shumar, W. (forthcoming) Interaction, imagination and community building at The Math Forum. In de Figueiredo, A. D., & Afonso, A. P. (Eds.) Managing Learning in Virtual Settings: The Role of Context. Hershey, PA: Idea Group, Inc. Shumar, W. (2003) The Role of Community and Belonging in Online Learning, in M. Mardis (Ed.) Developing Digital Libraries for K-12, Washington, DC: ERIC Monograph Series. Shumar, W. (2003) Internet Dreaming: Investigating Online Community at the Math Forum. In A. B. Shostak (ed.) Viable Utopian Ideas: Shaping a Better World. M. E. Sharpe. The Math Forum BRAP Project (2000). Encouraging mathematical thinking: Discourse around a rich problem (