Inaugural CASM conference connects math educators

The Connecting Advanced and Secondary Mathematics Educators (CASM) Conference brought together 53 mathematicians, educators, and teacher educators from 22 states and four continents for a three-day meeting on May 20-22. The conference was the first of its kind to bring together mathematics educators focused on secondary education.

The conference was spearheaded by Erin Baldinger, an assistant professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, who received a grant from the National Science Foundation to fund the conference along with co-investigators Eileen Murray of Montclair University, Josh Hertel of University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse, and Diana White of University of Colorado-Denver.

Baldinger and colleagues picked abstract algebra as a particular focus of the conference, specifically its connection to teaching school math. Current research in this area  spans both content and instruction. Nearly all secondary teachers take abstract algebra courses for teacher certification, so understanding the connections between the concepts and the teaching practice is critical, Baldinger notes, “because those connections influence teachers’ instructional practice and, ultimately, student learning.”

The CASM conference supported this work by connecting a diverse group of people interested in this topic and providing a common space that cuts across communities to advance the field through connections and shared ideas.

Learn more about the mathematics education programs at Montclair State University.