About the USNC

The U.S. National Commission on Mathematics Instruction (USNC/MI) plans, recommends, and encourages projects in areas of international importance in mathematical sciences education. It also advises the National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council (NAS-NRC) in all matters pertaining to the International Commission on Mathematical Instruction (ICMI).

The ICMI is a commission of the International Mathematical Union (IMU), a member union of the International Council for Science (ICSU).  The IMU is an international non-governmental and non-profit scientific organization, with the purpose of promoting international cooperation in the field of mathematics.

Activities & Events

  2009 Activities

International Assessment of Mathematics Planning Meeting
The USNC/MI sponsored a full-day meeting to discuss "The Interpretation of the Results of International Assessments," on Thursday, November 19, 2009 from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM at the Keck Center of The National Academies. Those interested in learning more about this meeting or contributing to the subject matter are encouraged to contact USNC/MI chair Rick Scott.

China-U.S. Mathematics Education Workshop
Newport Beach, California, July 31-August 2, 2009

The USNC/MI organized a workshop "Teacher Development Continuum in the United States and China," on the career ladder of mathematics teachers and the structures in place to support teachers of mathematics within the Chinese and U.S. educational systems.   Read more about this collaborative workshop.  

2009 NCTM Sessions
Washington, DC, April 22-25, 2009

 

The USNC/MI sponsored three sessions at the 2009 National Council of Teachers of Mathematics 2009 Annual Meeting & Exposition:

 

1) A session honoring the 2007 Felix Klein medalist, Jeremy Kilpatrick (University of Georgia), entitled “A Double Discontinuity.”  Friday, April 24, 2009, 2:00-4:00 PM

 

2) A session honoring the 2007 Hans Freudenthal medalist, Anna Sfard (University of Haifa), entitled “Learning to Think about Mathematical Learning: A Story of Research That Tries to Guide Educational Practice.”  Thursday, April 23, 2009, 11:00 AM-12:00 PM

 

3) USNC/MI is presented a session on lessons learned from ICME 11 entitled “International Perspectives: Learning from and with our Colleagues from around the World in ICME 11.”  Thursday, April 23, 2009, 11:00 AM-12:00 PM

ICMI-IMU Pipeline Project
This is a collaborative project between IMU and ICMI aims to conduct an international survey of the progression of students in mathematics in order to understand how these progressions change over time and what forces influence such changes.  Data is being collected in its current stage from eight countries (Australia, Finland, France, Korea, New Zealand, Portugal, United Kingdom, and U.S.) around the following four transition points:
  • From school to undergraduate programs
  • From undergraduate programs to higher degrees in mathematics
  • From university to the workforce
  • From university to teacher education

The USNC/MI member Bernard L. Madison, Professor of Mathematics at the University of Arkansas, is presently working on this project.  

 Participation in ICME 11

 2008 General Assembly (GA)
The USNC/MI actively promotes the advancement of education in the mathematical sciences through its support of activities at the International Congress on Mathematical Education, held every four years.  The 11th International Congress on Mathematical Education was held in Monterrey, Mexico, July 6-13, 2008.  The U.S. delegation to ICMI 11 was composed of two members: USNC/MI and delegation chair Francis (Skip) Fennell (McDaniel College) and Joe Rosenstein (Rutgers University).

As a result of Hyman Bass’ efforts as past president of ICMI, the International Math Union (IMU) allowed ICMI to choose its officers (Executive Committee for the period of 2010-2012) independently from IMU for the first time at ICME 11. The USNC/MI nominated Angel Ruiz (Universidad de Costa Rica, Costa Rica) as Vice-President of ICMI and Roger Howe (Yale University) as member at large of the 2010-2012 ICMI Executive Committee.  Both were elected to their respective positions.  Skip Fennell presented a brief report on USNC/MI activities at the general assembly.  View 2.6MB PowerPoint presentation.

 Sharing Experiences Group (SEG) at ICME 11: Teachers' Career Paths
Joseph Rosenstein (Rutgers University) and Danny Goroff (USNC/MI past-chair, Harvey Mudd College) chaired a SEG session at ICME 11 entitled “Teachers’ Career Paths: Comparing the Stages, Opportunities, and Rewards of Professional Growth in Different Countries” on July 9th and 11th.  The session focused on comparing how the pre-collegiate teaching profession is structured in different countries and identified possible career paths for teachers.  Math educators from Brazil, France, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and the United Stated participated.  The session also served as a springboard for a discussion for planned China workshop to be held in August 2009.

 Discussion Group (DG) 23 at ICME 11: Non-University Tertiary Mathematics Education 
Sadie Bragg (Borough of Manhattan Community College, City University of New York), organized the DG 23 on “Current Problems and Challenges in Non-University Tertiary Mathematics Education.”  A one-day workshop entitled, "Classroom Assessment: The Impact on Teaching and Learning in a Non-University Tertiary Institutions (NUTI)," was held on Monday, July 14, 2008, immediately after the Congress as a continuation of DG 23.

 

  USNC/MI Workshop on Classroom Assessment 
On July 14, 2008, Sadie Bragg, led a one-day workshop “Classroom Assessment: The Impact on Teaching and Learning in NUTI” in collaboration with Marilyn Mays, former USNC/MI member and past president of the American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges (AMATYC), and Cheryl Cleaves, the Executive Director of AMATYC.  The workshop: 1) explored the topic of classroom assessment as an outgrowth of the ICME 11 DG 23, and 2) examined and shared ways in which mathematics faculty from various countries use classroom assessments to inform, improve, and/or modify their teaching to enhance student learning.

 ICME 11 Travel Grant Program
The USNC/Math Instruction supports this NSF-sponsored travel grant program administrated by Gail Burrell from Michigan State University, which is offered every four years in conjuction with the ICME General Assembly.  Sixty-two travel grants of $1,000 and $2,000 were awarded to graduate students in math and math education, community college instructors, university mathematicians, university teacher educators, K-12 teachers, and others such as curriculum specialist, coaches, and professional development providers.

Download report on NCTM website.

 Mathematics Fact Book Distribution at ICME 11
John Dossey (past-chair and past member of the USNC/MI), Katherine Halvorsen, and Sharon McCrone prepared the 2007 update of the “Capsule Summary Fact Book” under the auspices of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.  Representatives of MAA, AMATYC, and members of USNC/MI reviewed the manuscript.  BISO Program Officer Ester Sztein edited the report, and NCTM arranged for its publication and mailing to ICME 11 for dissemination.  Approximately 2,500 books were distributed to congress attendees by the travel grant awardees and USNC/MI members. 
Download a free PDF of the report.

 ICMI Centennial
Hyman Bass, recipient of the 2006 National Medal of Science and immediate past president of ICMI, represented the United States at the celebration of ICMI Centennial at the Accademia dei Lincei in Rome in March 5-8, 2008.  About 200 participants attended to a symposium entitled “Reflecting and Shaping the World of Mathematics Education.”  Dr. Bass opened the plenary of the symposium with a presentation entitled “Moments of the Life of ICMI,” where he described the two distinct eras in the history of the organization: the Klein era (1908 to WWII) and the Freudenthal era (WWII to present).  

 Joint Meeting at University of Pennsylvania with Math Educators from China
Janine Remillard, USNC/MI member and Associate Professor of Education at the University of Pennsylvania, organized a conference entitled “Building in Cross-National Comparisons to Improve the Preparation and Support of Teachers of Mathematics” on November 13, 2008 at the University of Pennsylvania.  The USNC/MI, in collaboration with Dr. Remillard, organized a joint meeting and working dinner where some of the USNC/MI members met math educators from China.  The purpose of this meeting was to understand the preparation and professional development of math teachers in China.  The ultimate goal of this initiative was to facilitate the preparation and planning of a China-U.S. Workshop from July 31-August 2, 2009.  Dr. Remillard’s work has been funded by OISE at NSF, and her grant will support the upcoming China-U.S. Workshop.

 Participation at the 2008 National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM)
The National Committee supported three sessions at the 2008 NCTM annual meeting held in Salt Lake City, Utah (April 2008):

1. A session to introduce the attendees to the USNC/MI, its functions, goals, and the service that it can provide the community.
2. Joseph Rosenstein moderated a session entitled “Renew Yourself by Teaching Math in a Foreign Country."  Panel members included Cathy Seeley, Stuart Moskowitz, Diane Schnell, and Kristen Miller. The material covered in this section was used to organize the sharing experiences group at ICME 11 entitled “Teachers’ Career Paths: Comparing the Stages, Opportunities, and Rewards of Professional Growth in Different Countries.”
3. Members of the Travel Grant selection panel, which included members of the USNC/MI, met with travel grant awardees in preparation
   for ICME 11.
   

Current Membership

Sponsor

The USNC/MI is supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. MPS-0650065.

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