Outline of Faculty Mentoring Network Activities

August 15 - Deadline for Accepted Participants to Join QUBES Group

Week of September 12 - Network Launch
Topic: Background on the underlying mechanisms of math anxiety’s negative effects on performance.  Participants measure and discuss their own math anxiety.

Week of September 26
Topic: Growth mindset intervention.  Participants are introduced to the concept of a 'growth mindset,' how to promote a growth mindset in their students, and how it can help students overcome math anxiety.  We will also discuss stereotype threat and how to create an environment where all students feel comfortable attempting difficult problems.

    September 27, 2 PM
    Webinar: Talitha Washington on growth mindset intervention    Link to webinar recording

Week of October 10
Topic: “Math without the numbers” intervention: model thinking.  Focuses on ways to introduce 'intuitive' mathematical models without the equations, help students find patterns in visual representations of data, and other ways to overcome anxiety in students who don’t like manipulating numbers.

    October 14, 2 PM
    Webinar: Kaci Thompson on model thinking                    Link to webinar recording

Week of October 24
Topic: Encouraging math practice in students.  This also relates to the growth mindset topic.  Participants discuss ways to help students see math as a creative process, in which there are many 'correct' paths to a solution, and to encourage practice rather than fixation on reaching “one right answer.”

    October 28, 2 PM EST
    Webinar: Brad Williamson on encouraging math practice    Link to Zoom room for webinar

Week of October 31 - NABT conference Nov. 3-5

Thursday Nov. 3, 8:30am to 3:30pm: Workshop at National Association of Biology Teachers meeting, Denver, CO.  Please see this page for a tentative schedule.

Week of November 14
Topic: Metacognition intervention.  Participants are introduced to metacognitive interventions to help students reflect on their problem solving process and their attitudes towards math.

    November 15, 2 PM EST
    Webinar: Carrie Diaz Eaton on metacognition                Link to Zoom room for webinar

Week of November 28 - Wrap up

     December 2, 2 PM
     Webinar: Bob Mayes will bring the FMN to a conclusion