Share Paper: Supporting Teachers' Ability to Leverage Makerspaces in the Teaching and Learning of Mathematics

  1. Kimberly Corum, Towson University, United States
  2. Lynn Nichols, Towson University, United States
  3. Sandy Spitzer, Towson University, United States
  4. Kayla Begen, Towson University, United States

Abstract: Makerspaces are increasingly present in K-12 schools and these spaces have the potential to be transformative for mathematics education. However, this rich promise of makerspaces to be transformative for education assumes that teachers will be able to successfully integrate these spaces into their instruction. Teachers who lack the specialized knowledge for such integration, which we refer to as MakerPACK, are unlikely to use makerspaces to their full potential. This mixed-methods research project investigates teacher learning of makerspace technologies through the lens of mathematics curriculum and tasks within the context of a graduate course. Emerging results suggest that while exposing practicing ...