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Searching for evidence of curricular effect on the teaching and learning of mathematics: some insights from the LieCal project

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Abstract

Drawing on evidence from the Longitudinal Investigation of the Effect of Curriculum on Algebra Learning (LieCal) Project, issues related to mathematics curriculum reform and student learning are discussed. The LieCal Project was designed to longitudinally investigate the impact of a reform mathematics curriculum called the Connected Mathematics Project (CMP) in the USA on teachers’ teaching and students’ learning. Using a three-level conceptualization of curriculum (intended, implemented, and attained), a variety of evidence from the LieCal Project is presented to show the impact of mathematics curriculum reform on teachers’ teaching and students’ learning. This paper synthesizes findings from the two longitudinal studies spanning 7 years of the LieCal Project both to show the kind of impact curriculum has on teachers’ teaching and students’ learning and to suggest powerful but feasible ways researchers can investigate curriculum effect on both teaching and learning.

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Acknowledgments

Research reported in this paper has been supported by grants from the National Science Foundation (ESI-0454739 and DRL-1008536). Any opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the National Science Foundation. This research was conducted in collaboration with John Moyer and Ning Wang. I am very grateful for the support from a number of researchers and research assistants, including, Bikai Nie, Maria Alyson, Pat Bolter, Darlene Boyle, Carole Bryan, Janis Freckmann, Tony Freedman, Tammy Garber, Joan Grampp, Yuichi Handa, Patrick Hopfensperger, Stephen Hwang, Connie Laughlin, Victorial Robison, Mark Roche, Maxwell Scheinfield, Chelsey Schwander, Steven Silber, Carly Toth, Matt Wells, Courtney White, Libby Wenner, and Yue Zeng. An earlier version of this paper was presented as a Regular Lecture at the International Congress of Mathematics Education, Seoul, South Korea, July 7–15, 2012. The author is grateful for the thorough editorial assistance provided by Stephen Hwang.

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  1. University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA

    Jinfa Cai

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Cai, J. Searching for evidence of curricular effect on the teaching and learning of mathematics: some insights from the LieCal project. Math Ed Res J 26, 811–831 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13394-014-0122-y

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