ExploreLearning recently joined educators at the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) for the 2024 Annual Meeting & Exposition in Chicago. Product Designer Faith Peddie and Solutions Specialist Robyn Ullah immersed themselves in discussions, presentations, and workshops. Faith shared her reflections on their experiences. Read on to find out all the details.
A sentimental return to NCTM
Having been a member for over a decade and previously serving as Classroom Resources Manager, this year’s conference in Chicago carried deep personal meaning. It was a homecoming to Chicago nonetheless, filled with nostalgia as I had opportunities to reconnect with former colleagues, including a serendipitous encounter during a fractions session with my first-ever resident teacher.
Leveraging student misconceptions for deeper learning: Insights from Dan Meyer
Theme: “The Math of Their Dreams: Illuminating Students’ Brilliance” and Dan Meyer’s Session
The energy at the conference was remarkably high, especially post-pandemic, with presentation rooms filled with excitement and engagement. The theme resonated throughout the event, with a central focus on student thinking and identity across sessions. The opening session I attended, "Everything that can go right when students get it wrong," was particularly impactful. Dan Meyer’s focus on using student misconceptions as learning opportunities tied perfectly with the conference's theme.
It also resonated with our company's approach to designing feedback within Frax, where incorrect answers are low-stakes yet powerful learning opportunities. It also helped me consider ideas we might want to consider for future iterations of Frax. Where might there be value in exploring non-answers to fraction questions in our game-based environment?
Fractions: A challenging topic for educators
Multiple sessions on teaching fractions underscored a clear theme: fractions are difficult to teach, and teachers are eager for additional support and resources. This aligns well with our work on Frax, which is designed to address these exact challenges.
ExploreLearning booth: A standout attraction at the conference
The ExploreLearning booth stood out with its bright design and strong presence, attracting attention throughout the event. The ExploreLearning bag became a popular choice for attendees to carry their conference swag, adding visibility to the brand. It was so nice being together with colleagues from across the country as we all came together to enjoy some Chicago-style pizza over dinner one evening!
Successful presentation on Frax
Our presentation, "Blending Online and Offline Learning Environments to Teach Fraction Concepts," went as best as possible. Attendees were mostly new to Frax, but they enthusiastically engaged with the hands-on Captain’s Checkpoints activity, stepping into the role of students.
This wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work of Senior Virtual Learning Communities Specialist Emily Reichbach and Learning Architect Mangai Neelavannan, who were pivotal in developing Frax’s offline resources. In addition, Robyn was willing to step in when presenter plans changed.
Plans for next year’s NCTM in Atlanta
Looking ahead, our edtech design team is excited to propose additional sessions for the next annual meeting in Atlanta. These sessions will provide even more opportunities to introduce educators to the full scope of Frax's offerings.
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About the Author
Dr. Faith Peddie is a designer at ExploreLearning specializing in product growth. She holds an Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Virginia and a Master of Arts in Teaching from National Louis University. With a background as a mathematics educator, coach, and researcher, Faith is dedicated to providing teachers and students with meaningful classroom resources. As a member of the Frax team, she develops offline materials that complement the storylines and content of the online learning platform, while also implementing content iterations informed by user data and feedback.