Since our last newsletter, there has been a lot of activity taking place within the GeT: A Pencil community. We recently convened for a Community Meeting on September 8, 2023, and many of us had the pleasure of reconnecting at PMENA 2023 in Reno. These gatherings, whether formal meetings or spontaneous encounters at conferences, are cherished opportunities to share insights, collaborate on projects, and engage in stimulating discussions. Notably, they also offer a chance to welcome new colleagues into our thriving community. As we reflect on these events, it is clear that the GeT:A Pencil community is rapidly expanding. In this update, we will delve into the highlights from these recent happenings.

Community Member Updates

Our Community Meeting kicked off with engaging updates from various community members. It was a privilege to hear about recent presentations and research findings related to the ongoing work taking place within GeT: A Pencil. At PMENA, we also noted some community members seizing the chance to share their ongoing GeT Support projects with fellow attendees. If there are any updates we missed or overlooked, we encourage you to reach out; we are eager to learn about and share your contributions across the community. These updates are not only informative but also serve as opportunities for collaboration. They allow individuals to explore possibilities for future presentations building upon prior work.

Here are some noteworthy presentations we learned about:

Steve Cohen from Roosevelt University gave two presentations, both titled “Essential Student Learning Objectives for Geometry for Teachers (GeT) Courses,” in April of 2023. One happened at the Illinois Section of the Mathematical Association of America (ISMAA) annual meeting, and the other happened at the Chicago Symposium Series for Excellence in Teaching Science and Mathematics: Research and Practice. 

Stephen Szydlik from University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh also presented about the GeT Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) in April of 2023. His presentation took place at the Wisconsin Section meeting of the MAA (Mathematical Association of America) at UW-Stout. 

Dorin Dumitrascu from Adrian College also presented about the GeT SLOs in March of 2023. His presentation, titled “A Student Learning Outcomes Perspective on the College Geometry Course for Secondary Teachers,” took place at the 2023 Annual Meeting of the MAA-Michigan Section, Alma, Michigan. 

Both Steve Cohen and Stephen Szydlik were present at the Community Meeting and provided details about their presentations and ways that the work was well received, providing other instructors not involved in the work with valuable insights that sparked engaging discussions among attendees. They also both expressed a willingness to share about their experiences, including details about their slide decks if anyone is interested in reaching out. 

At the PMENA 2023 conference, Steve Boyce from Portland State University and Mike Ion from the University of Michigan shared their research about college students’ mathematical reasoning when engaging with Adinkra, during a poster session. Their presentation offered analysis about student responses to tasks involving student-created symbols and their geometric justifications. We look forward to hearing more about how the presentation was received from participants. 

Members of the GRIP LAB at the University of Michigan also shared work at the PMENA 2023 conference, in a talk entitled “How instructors of undergraduate mathematics courses manage tensions related to teaching courses for teachers?”. Their insights into the complexities of teaching the geometry course for secondary teachers resonated with both instructors and researchers.

For those who could not attend these talks, rest assured that both presentations will soon be available in the PMENA proceedings. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to all these presenters for their dedication to knowledge sharing within our community.

We want to emphasize that we are always eager to receive updates from the community, whether they pertain to presentations, new publications, or personal or professional accomplishments. In every newsletter, we feature a community member, and we look forward to hearing from you. While our community continues to grow, it remains tightly knit and thrives on celebrating each other’s achievements. So, if you have an update—no matter how big or small—please share it with us by reaching out to the project manager, Inese, in*****@***ch.edu.

Working Group Updates 

During the Community Meeting, we had the privilege of hearing updates from various Working Groups, each diligently working on projects related to curriculum development and research. These groups play a pivotal role in our collective mission to use the undergraduate geometry course as a lever for making a positive impact for increasing the capacity for teaching high school geometry. Here are the highlights from their updates:

Julia St. Goar from Merrimack College and Steve Boyce from Portland State University shared how the Transformations Working Group has been going. This group has been actively engaged in creating lessons centered around the symmetries of Adinkra cultural symbols. Currently, they are focusing on implementing lesson study and conducting lesson observations to further enhance their materials. If you are interested in joining their discussions, the group meets every other Wednesday at 2 pm Eastern; the next Transformations meeting will be Wednesday, October 18.

Nat Miller from Northern Colorado University shared how the Teaching GeT Working Group has been going. The Teaching GeT Working Group successfully completed the development of a set of 10 essential Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) for the GeT course. Now, they are exploring their next steps, which may include activities such as observing each other teach GeT courses and developing curricular materials. Everyone is welcome to join their discussions during their Monday meetings at noon Eastern. The next Teaching GeT is Monday, October 23. 

Mara Markinson from Teachers’ College at Columbia shared about how the ELSO Working Group is going. The Engaging with SLOs Working Group comprises both high school geometry teachers and university-level instructors. Last year, they reviewed and discussed all ten of the SLOs’ narratives, provided feedback on two of the ten SLOs, and are determined to complete this task by providing feedback on the remaining six SLOs. Their feedback will be instrumental in revising the original drafts of the SLOs. Additionally, the group aims to examine student work from geometry tasks suitable for both secondary and college settings. Meetings are held every other Thursday at 4 pm Eastern. The next ESLO Working Group meeting will be on October 19.

We want to emphasize that all the working groups are open to new members, and we encourage anyone interested in joining to participate in their respective meetings. Your contributions and insights are highly valued as we collectively strive to elevate mathematics education.

Exciting Opportunities Ahead

Throughout our community meetings and gatherings, members are consistently highlighting exciting opportunities on the horizon. Our community actively explores avenues to contribute to the field of secondary and undergraduate mathematics education, including potential book projects, research initiatives, collaborative teaching endeavors, and the development of teaching materials. We encourage community participants to get involved and share their expertise. Below are some opportunities that are currently happening or being discussed within the GeT: A Pencil community: 

Task Development: With the completion of the first draft of the SLOs, there is a growing interest in mathematical task development that aligns with these objectives. Groups of instructors are considering the identification, development, and cataloging of a repository of tasks to effectively teach and assess the SLOs. The notion of collecting and sharing student work for analysis is also under consideration.

Collaborative Efforts: Our community is characterized by its collaborative spirit, with many members expressing their readiness to share resources, tasks, and research findings. It is a place where people find like-minded collaborators. Several individuals are currently collaborating on chapters for a forthcoming book, and others are joining forces to propose new research projects that emerge from our community’s work. As we move forward, we anticipate even more opportunities for collaboration to emerge and thrive.

Future Community Gatherings: Our Community Meeting concluded with a glimpse of upcoming events and gatherings. We remain steadfast in our commitment to providing opportunities for undergraduate instructors and researchers, as well as high school geometry teachers, to connect, learn, and grow together. These gatherings serve as excellent avenues to stay connected and informed about the latest developments in mathematics education. Although we have the RUME meeting in 2024 and the Spring GeT: A Pencil Community Meeting on the horizon, it is worth noting that our community’s presence is increasingly felt at various conferences. So, wherever you may find yourself, keep an eye out for fellow GeT: A Pencil members; you never know where our community might gather (most recently at an impromptu lunch at PMENA).

In closing, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the active and engaged members of our community. Your dedication to enhancing mathematics education is a constant source of inspiration, and we eagerly anticipate our next gathering and the unexpected encounters that lie ahead. To our new members, welcome! You have joined a vibrant and supportive community that thrives on collaboration and celebrates its members. I know I speak for the community when I say, we cannot wait to get to know you.