Some MSU faculty members are taking on Washington, D.C., this week, kicking off the establishment of MSU’s new Institute for Research on Mathematics and Science Education at a two-day colloquium about K-12 mathematics.
The institute, a collaboration of the College of Education and the College of Natural Science, will emphasize the improvement of math and science education at the K-12 level and in the first few years of higher education, said William Schmidt, the institute’s interim director.
“In order to do effective, good research in this area, (work at the institute) will require an interdisciplinary approach,” Schmidt said. “This conference gives us a chance to say to the nation that MSU is a place where good research of this sort can take place.”
Dialogue about what kind of research will be conducted through the institute is in the initial stages, Schmidt said.
The institute will work closely with the BEACON Center for the Study of Evolution in Action and will initiate research in the areas of biology, physics and mathematics education, he said.
Although infrastructure funding for the institute comes from the Office of the Provost, the College of Natural Science and the College of Education, Schmidt said he hopes to bring in many external grants for research.
Raven McCrory, an associate professor in teaching and math education, said it is important for MSU to engage this kind of research that the institute will create.
“The fact is that students don’t know enough math and science to function in our world today,” McCrory said.
The institute will become an integrated part of campus, Schmidt said, involving faculty in research and carrying on joint projects between the two founding colleges.
McCrory said she hopes the institute will bring exciting projects and visitors to campus.
“Economists have a persuasive argument that if we can do a better job at educating our students — especially math and science — then it will, in the long run, help our economy, and that’s important,” she said.
Elementary education senior Kaitlinn Rutkowski said research on teaching methods for students who learn in different ways would be useful in the classroom.
“A lot of times teachers only teach one method of figuring out a problem, but people learn in different ways,” she said.
The institute will lead to a brighter future for educators and those they are educating, Schmidt said.
“We’re announcing to the world a serious commitment by MSU — a commitment to this research for the betterment of our children,” he said.
“It’s time to realize those promises.”
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