Current News
- Newly published chapter in the 2008 Yearbook of the National Society for the Study of Education: The role of mathematics in education for democracy
Deborah Ball and Hyman Bass have published a chapter in the 2008 Yearbook of the National Society for the Study of Education (NSSE). “The role of mathematics in education for democracy” addresses one of the enduring concerns in schooling–how to relate meaningful classroom experiences to greater public purposes, specifically in mathematics classrooms. The crux of their argument is that mathematics instruction can embrace, uphold, and promote the norms, skills, and dispositions of democracy. Using a classroom discussion as example, they show how young people can develop competence in problem solving, democratic dialogue, and consensus building. They argue that mathematics offers an underutilized set of resources for the ways in which we educate students for participation in a democracy.
go to the publication listing for this chapter »
- New publication in Journal of Teacher Education– Content knowledge for teaching: What makes it special?
Deborah Ball, Mark Thames, and Geoffrey Phelps have authored an article that appears in the November/December 2008 issue of the Journal of Teacher Education. This article reports on their efforts to develop a practice-based theory of content knowledge for teaching built on Shulman’s notion of pedagogical content knowledge. Their research uncovers an important subdomain of “pure” content knowledge unique to the work of teaching, specialized content knowledge, which is distinct from the content knowledge needed in other mathematically-intense occupations. They also identify two recognizable subdomains within pedagogical content knowledge–knowledge of content and students and knowledge of content and teaching.
go to the SAGE website to download this paper »
- Commentary for recent news publications on math specialists in schools
The Washington Post interviewed Deborah Ball for a piece that appeared on November 6 entitled, “An Addition to the classroom: With untrained elementary teachers, more schools turn to specialists.” This article discussed recent attention focused on employing math specialists to shore up our nation's elementary school teaching workforce. Ball was also interviewed by CBS Radio to provide additional commentary on the issue.
go to the Washington Post article »
- Ball Delivers Presentation at the National Mathematics Panel Forum on October 6
This forum was hosted by the U.S. Department of Education and the Conference Board of Mathematical Sciences (CBMS) to bring together various organizations and other interested parties to review the findings of the National Mathematics Panel and discuss how these might be used to improve mathematics education in the United States.
download Ball's presentation from the Panel Forum: Teachers and teacher education (PDF)
go to the National Math Panel Forum website »
About the National Mathematics Advisory Panel –
The National Mathematics Advisory Panel was convened in 2006 by President George W. Bush. It released its final report, Foundations for Success, on March 13, 2008. The panel received testimony from more than 200 individuals and 150 organizations, and reviewed more than 16,000 research studies. Dean Ball, an expert on mathematics teaching and teacher education, was named to the panel for her important work on mathematical knowledge for teaching.
go to the National Mathematics Advisory Panel website »
download the National Mathematics Panel final report, Foundations for Success (PDF)
go to the U-M press release about Ball's contributions to the report »
download Ball's comments on the report release (PDF)
go to a Washington Post article on the report »
go to an Education Week article on the report »
- Ball Addresses Congressional Staff at Capitol Hill Briefing on Teacher Quality
On September 16, Dean Ball visited Capitol Hill to brief congressional education policy specialists on the crucial impact of educational research in producing high quality teachers. Ball's presentation, "What is required to produce a quality teacher," emphasized the impact schools of education have on student learning and demonstrated how research on preparing math teachers could serve as the basis for making concrete observations about other teachers. The presentation was part of the larger Learning and Education Academic Research Network (LEARN) Congressional Briefing, Teacher Quality: Research on the Science of Teaching and Learning. LEARN is a coalition of 17 deans from the nation's leading research schools of education who inform policymakers on new research and the importance of education science to education practice.
- Outstanding Contributions to Mathematics Education Award
The Michigan Council of Teachers of Mathematics (MCTM) awarded Deborah Ball its highest honor for contributions to mathematics education--the Outstanding Contributions to Mathematics Education Award. Ball received the award at the group's 59th Annual Conference and Institute on August 7 in recognition of her academic and profesional development contributions.
go to the Michigan Council of Teachers of Mathematics website »