Faculty Experts
Nicole Fonger
Across all of my research I seek to better understand both students’ meaningful learning of mathematics, and the nature of supports for that learning
Across all of my research I seek to better understand students’ meaningful learning of mathematics and the nature of support for that learning. I focus on linking research and practice to support and understand students’ meaningful algebra learning in urban public high schools. I network theories to better understand complex phenomena of teaching and learning mathematics in city school classrooms.
As a community-engaged researcher, I seek to build meaningful partnerships with school and community stakeholders with a focus on supporting students’ learning of algebra in urban public schools, classrooms, and teacher-student relationships. Please reach out if you’re interested in collaborating!
The three main strands and related guiding questions of my scholarship are:
Meaningful Learning Strand: I study how students learn algebra and algebraic thinking in meaningful ways.
- How does networking representational fluency and quantitative reasoning shed light on students’ meaningful learning of algebra?
- How do English as a second language learners communicate their mathematical ideas through linguistic and visual resources or representations?
Teaching and Learning Trajectories Strand: I study how teachers support secondary students’ learning of algebra in school settings over time.
- What is a learning trajectory for quadratic function?
- How do theoretically grounded instructional moves and task design support shifts in students’ ways of understanding and ways of thinking?
- How might mindfulness mitigate math anxiety?
- What are ways teachers support students’ multidimensionality of experience and relations through heart-centered caring?
Linking Research, Practice, and Place Strand: I study how to link research and practice in urban public schools with a focus on anti-oppressive practices and policies for marginalized students.
- How do practices and policies operate as gatekeepers to students’ opportunities to learn math in meaningful ways in urban public high schools?
- How do research-practice partnerships operate as mechanisms to address equitable approaches to linking research, practice, and policy in high school algebra?
- How can the effective communication among researchers and teachers be improved and more equitable? What role can visual stimulus notes / sketchnotes play in this process?
- What are productive images and metaphors for linking research and practice (that help us move beyond a deficiency or ‘gap’ focused storyline).
Grad Student Mentorship Opportunities:
Lead Management of Reality Math Circle Project.
Co-author papers for conferences and journals.
Lead of co-create expereinces and artifacts to strengthen research-practice links (e.g. video, sketch, write, teacher PD).