Immersing yourself in IBL at Westfield

Written by: Dr. Volker Ecke.

Come and explore IBL at Westfield

An inquiry-based learning classroom looks very different from a traditional classroom in so many ways. Consider the following aspects as examples: What are the goals and meta-goals do we have for our students? What types of investigations make sense for what kinds of classes? What format for student collaboration works well for what majors? What depth do we expect in student explanations? What general noise level in a class are you comfortable with? How many independent lines of thought are going on in a single classroom at the same time? What pedagogical "control knobs" does the faculty member have who is facilitating the inquiry? What pedagogical techniques are effective for engaging students in inquiry?

Many of these aspects are closely interrelated, difficult to untangle, and hard to communicate with precision and clarity through papers, blogs and even videos. In the spirit of inquiry, you really should be involved in the process of inquiry.

Wouldn't it be amazing to develop a collection of IBL hubs or centers across the US where mathematics faculty could immerse themselves for a day in a broad variety of IBL classroom experiences, explore IBL course materials, review studies and publications about IBL, and engage in deep pedagogical conversations with more experienced faculty in a department environment that welcomes broad exploration of IBL?

At Westfield State University, we happen to have a department where many faculty engage in IBL in a broad range of styles, content areas, and student audiences. We are welcoming faculty to visit with us for a day at Westfield State University. Depending on your interests, you can visit any class you want and engage with faculty on topics that help you develop as an IBL teacher.

If this sounds intriguing and you'd like to visit, please contact us and start a conversation about arrangements for your visit!

Group work on the board
Group work on the board

Sample Schedule

To give you a sense of what such a visit could look like, here's a sample schedule.

  • Arrive, coffee/tea, checking in with faculty, quick orientation to the department
  • Class visit 1 (e.g. Math for Liberal Arts, Calc I/III, Math Majors Classes, Secondary Licensure Math course, Math for Elementary School Teachers, ...)
  • De-brief with faculty after class
  • Class visit 2
  • De-brief with faculty after class
  • Lunch conversation with IBL faculty
  • Longer group meeting with IBL faculty, identifying specific areas of interest to the visiting faculty, identifying resources,
  • Another class visit / researching materials / conversations with students / ...

We could likely find a place to put you up overnight if you want to leave the following day (or stay for another day of classroom visits and conversations :-).

Schedule of Courses

Here is a selection of courses you could come and join. In addition to courses taught by the four of us, we also list courses taught by faculty who we closely collaborate with: JF=Julian Fleron, PKH=Philip Hotchkiss, VE=Volker Ecke, CvR=Christine von Renesse, BJ=Brian Jennings, AR = Anna Rokicki, PDO = Philip DeOrsey, DM = Diane Morton, JMc=Judy MacKinnon, JL=Lenny Livingstone, JW=Jim Wright, KV=Karin Vorwerk, TW=Ted Welsh.

Spring 2020

Day of Week Time of Day Type of Course Teacher Notes
TR 11:15-12:30 Mathematical Explorations CvR General Ed, First Year Only
MW 1:40-2:55 Linear Algebra CvR STEM majors
TR 9:45-11:00 Pre-Calculus PDO STEM majors
MWF 9:20-10:10 Calculus 1 PDO STEM majors
M 10:25-11:15 Calculus 1 PDO STEM majors
TR 12:45-2:00 Graph Theory PDO Math majors
MWF 11:30-12:20 Calculus 2 AR STEM majors
W 10:25-11:15 Calculus 2 AR STEM majors
TR 9:45-11:00 Mathematical Explorations DM General Ed
TR 12:45-2:00 Mathematical Explorations DM General Ed
TR 2:15-3:30 Number Systems VE Future Elem Ed
TR 8:15-9:30 Number Systems DM Future Elem Ed
MW 1:40-2:55 Patterns and Algebra VE Future Elem Ed
TR 11:15-12:30 Patterns and Algebra AR Future Elem Ed
TR 11:15-12:30 Actuarial Problem Solving VE STEM majors
TR 12:45-2:00 Elementary Stats KV General Ed
MWF 9:20-1:10 Calculus 3 KV STEM Majors
F 10:25-11:15 Calculus 3 KV STEM Majors
MWF 11:30-12:20 Math Stats (Calc based) TW STEM Majors
TR 11:15-12:30 Calculus 2 JF STEM Majors
W 10:25-11:15 Calculus 2 JF STEM Majors
MW 1:40-2:55 Literature of Math JF General Ed
TR 2:15-3:30 Number Theory JF Math Majors

Fall 2019

Day of Week Time of Day Type of Course Teacher Notes
TR 11:15-12:30 Calculus 1 CvR STEM majors
M 11:30-12:20 Calculus 1 CvR STEM majors
TR 8:15-9:30 Secondary Ed Methods CvR Future sec ed teachers
MW 1:40-2:55 Pre-Calculus CvR STEM majors
TR 9:45-11:00 Patterns and Algebra VE Future Elem Ed
TR 12:45-2:00 Patterns and Algebra VE Future Elem Ed
MW 1:40-2:55 Modern Geometries VE Math Majors
MWF 11:30-12:20 Calculus 2 PD STEM Majors
W 10:25-11:15 Calculus 2 PD STEM Majors
TR 9:45-11:00 Abstract Algebra PD Math Majors
TR 2:15-3:30 Math Explorations PD General Ed, Honors
MWF 12:35-1:25 Math Explorations JF General Ed
TR 2:15-3:30 Math Explorations DM General Ed
TR 12:45-2:00 Math Explorations DM General Ed
TR 3:45-5:00 Math Explorations DM General Ed
TR 11:15-12:30 Number Systems AR Future Elem Ed

Spring 2019

Day of Week Time of Day Type of Course Teacher Notes
TR 9:45-11 am Patterns, Reasoning, Algebra CvR Future Elementary School Teachers
TR 2:15-3:30 pm Mathematical Explorations CvR Mathematics for Liberal Arts
TR 9:45-11 am Calculus 1 PDO STEM majors
MWF 8:15-9:05 am Mathematical Explorations PDO General Education
MWF 10:25-11:15 am Pre-Calculus PDO STEM majors and General Ed
MWF 9:20-10:10 am Linear Algebra PH STEM majors
MWF 11:30-12:20 pm Mathematical Explorations PH General Education
MW 1:40-2:55 pm Literature of Mathematics PH General Education
TR 11:15-12:30 pm Calculus 2 AR STEM Majors
W 12:35-1:25 pm Calculus 2 AR STEM Majors
MWF 10:25-11:15 am Pattern, Algebra and Reasoning AR Future Elementary School Teachers
TR 12:45-2:00 pm Pattern, Algebra and Reasoning AR Future Elementary School Teachers
TR 9:45-11:00 am Math for Science Majors KV STEM majors
Tuesday 2:15-3:15 pm Calculus 3 (small class) KV STEM majors
MW 1:30-12:20 pm Calculus 3 (small class) KV STEM majors
MWF 9:20-10:10 am Number Systems JW Future Elementary School Teachers
MWF 11:30-12:20 pm Number Systems JW Future Elementary School Teachers
TR 8:15-9:30 Patterns, Algebra and Reasoning DM Future Elementary School Teachers
TR 12:45-2:00 pm Mathematical Exploration (small class) DM General Education
TR 2:15-3:30 pm Mathematical Exploration DM General Education

Fall 2018

Day of Week Time of Day Type of Course Teacher Notes
MW 1:40-2:30 pm Patterns, Reasoning, Algebra VE Future Elementary School Teachers
TR 2:15 -3:30 pm Modern Geometries I VE Upper-level math major class
TR 11:15 am -12:10 Calculus 1 CvR Math/Science Majors
MW 10:25 -11:15 am Calculus 1 CvR Math/Science Majors
MW 1:40 -2:55 pm Math Explorations CvR Liberal Arts, Gen Ed.
MWF 9:20-10:10 am Mathematical Explorations JF Liberal Arts, Gen Ed.
MWF 10:25 -11:15 am Intro to Math Systems JF Math Majors
TR 9:45 -11:00 am Abstract Algebra PDO Math majors
MWF 9:20-10:10 am Math Explorations PDO Liberal Arts, Gen Ed.
MWF 10:25 -11:15am Pre-Calculus PDO STEM majors and General Ed.

Spring 2018

Day of Week Time of Day Type of Course Teacher Notes
TR 11:15 am -12:10 Calculus 2 CvR Math/Science Majors
W 1:40 -2:30 pm Calculus 2 CvR Math/Science Majors
TR 12:45 -2:00 pm Pattern and Algebra CvR Future Elementary School Teachers
TR 9:45 -11:30 am Number Systems VE Future Elementary School Teachers
TR 12:45 -2:00 pm Math Methods VE Future Elementary School Teachers
TR 12:45 -2:00 pm Calculus 1 PDO STEM majors
F 11:30-12:20 pm Calculus 1 PDO STEM majors
MWF 10:25 -11:15am Pre-Calculus PDO STEM majors and General Ed.
MWF 12:35 -1:25pm Pre-Calculus PDO STEM majors and General Ed.
TR 2:15 -3:30 pm Math Explorations DM Liberal Arts, Gen Ed.
TR 3:45 -5:00 pm Math Explorations DM Liberal Arts, Gen Ed.

Fall 2017

Day of Week Time of Day Type of Course Teacher Notes
TR 11:15 am -12:10 pm Calculus 1 CvR Math/Science Majors
TR 12:45 - 2:00 pm Math for Liberal Arts CvR General Education
W 10:25 -11:15 am Calculus 1 CvR Math/Science Majors
M 2:30 - 3:45 pm Exploring Teaching High School CvR Math Ed. Majors
MW 1:40 - 2:55 pm Precalculus PDO Math/Science Majors and Gen Ed
MW 3:10 - 4:00 pm Precalculus PDO Math/Science Majors and Gen Ed
TR 11:15 - 12:30 pm Calculus PDO Math/Science Majors
F 10:25 - 11:15 pm Calculus PDO Math/Science Majors
TR 8:15 - 9:30 pm Math for Liberal Arts PH Gen Education
TR 2:15 - 3:30 pm Math for Liberal Arts PH Gen Education
TR 9:45 - 11:00 pm Calculus 3 PH Math Majors
M 10:25 - 11:15 pm Calculus 3 PH Math Majors
MWF 9:20 - 10:10 pm Number Systems VE Elem Ed Majors
MWF 10:25 - 11:15 pm Math for Liberal Arts VE Gen. Education
TR 3:45-5 pm Modern Geometries I VE Math Majors
TR 9:45-11:00 am Calculus 2 AR Math/Science Majors
TR 11:15-12:30 am Calculus 2 AR Math/Science Majors
TR 12:45-2:00 pm Linear Algebra AR Math/Science Majors
MWF 10:25-11:15 pm Number Systems AR Elem Education
MWF 11:30-12:20 pm Number Systems AR Elem Education
MWF 11:30-12:20 pm Patterns and Algebra BJ Elem Education
MW 1:40-2:55 pm Patterns and Algebra BJ Elem Education
TR 11:15-12:30 pm Geometry BJ Elem Education
MWF 9:20-10:10 am Intro to Math Systems JF Math Majors
MWF 10:25-11:15 am Mathematical Explorations JF Gen Education
TR 9:45-11:00 am Calculus 1 JF Math and Science Majors
W 12:35-1:25 pm Calculus 1 JF Math and Science Majors

Spring 2017

Day of Week Time of Day Type of Course Teacher Notes
W 3:40-6:10 pm Algebraic Geometry CvR, VE Math Majors
Tue Th 9:45-11 am Elem. School Math VE Patterns, Algebra and Reasoning
Tue Th 12:45-2:00 pm Math for Liberal Arts VE
Tue Th 9:45-11 am Teaching Algebra in High School CvR Secondary Education
Tue Th 12:45-2:00 pm Calculus 2 CvR
Tue (not Th) 11:15-12:30 pm Calculus 2 CvR
MWF 9:20-10:10 pm Differential Equations PH
TR 9:45-11:00 pm Calculus 2 AR
T 11:15-12:30 pm Calculus 2 AR
TR 12:45-2:00 pm Linear Algebra AR
MW 4:00-5:15 pm Number Theory AR
TR 2:15-3:30 pm Foundations: Geometry BJ Future Elem School
Tue Th 12:45-2:00 pm Math for Liberal Arts PDO
M W 1:40-2:30 pm Calculus 1 PDO
F 12:35-2:15 pm Calculus 1 PDO

Fall 2016

Day of Week Time of Day Type of Course Teacher Notes
M W F 11:30-12:20 am Math for Liberal Arts CvR Honors Learning Community
M W F 12:35-1:25 pm Elem. School Math CvR Patterns, Algebra, Reasoning
Tue Th 11:30-12:45 am Calculus 1 CvR
W 10:25-11:15 am Calculus 1 CvR
Tue Th 8:15-9:30 am Modern Geometries VE Math Majors
Tue Th 9:45-11:00 am Math for Liberal Arts VE
Tue Th 12:45-2:00 am Math Methods VE Math for Elem School
Tue Th 12:45-2:00 pm Math for Liberal Arts PKH
M W F 12:35-1:25 am Calculus 3 PKH
TuTh 11:15-12:30 pm Calculus 3 PKH
TuTh 11:15-12:30 pm Calculus 1 JF
W 12:35-1:25 am Calculus 1 JF
M W F 12:35-1:25 pm Math Elem School BJ Pattern, Algebra and Reasoning
TuTh 11:15-12:30 pm Math for Elem School BJ Geometry

Spring 2016

Day of Week Time of Day Type of Course Teacher Notes
TuTh 9:45-11:00 am Teaching Methods CvR Includes middle school class component.
TuTh 12:45-2:00 pm Math for Liberal Arts CvR
MWF 9:20-10:10 am Math for Liberal Arts JF
MWF 10:25-11:15 am Math for Liberal Arts JF
TuTh 8:15-9:30 pm Calc II JF
TuTh 8:15-9:30 am Math for Liberal Arts PKH
TuTh 11:15-12:30 pm Math for Liberal Arts PKH
TuTh 2:15-3:30 pm Real Analysis PKH
TuTh 9:45-11:00 am Elem School Math VE Patterns, Algebra, Reasoning
TuTh 12:45-2:00 pm Math for Liberal Arts VE
TuTh 12:45-2:00 pm Calc I BJ
MWF 11:30-12:20 pm Elem Math Ed BJ Patterns, Algebra, Reasoning
MWF 12:35-1:25 pm Elem Math Ed BJ Patterns, Algebra, Reasoning
Tue/Thu 2:15-3:30 pm Differential Equations BJ
MWF 9:20-10:10 am Linear Algebra AR
MWF 10:25-11:15 am Elem Math Ed AR Patterns, Algebra, Reasoning
MWF 11:30-12:20 pm Calc II AR

Fall 2015

Day of Week Time of Day Type of Course Teacher Notes
MWF 9:20-10:10 Math for Liberal Arts JF
MWF 10:25-11:15 Math for Liberal Arts JF
Tu/Thu 9:45-11:00 Introduction to Mathematical Systems JF
Tu/Thu 12:45-2:00 Math for Liberal Arts CvR
Tu/Th 11:15-12:30 Calculus III CvR
W 12:35-1:25 Calculus III CvR
Tu/Th 7:50-9:30 Calculus II PH
Tu/Th 9:45-11:00 Math for Liberal Arts PH
Tu/Th 12:45-2:00 Senior Seminar PH
M/W 2:45-4:00 Modern Geometries VE
Tu/Th 9:45-11:00 Math Methods (Elementary) VE Visits to Elementary School
Tu/Th 2:15-3:30 Math for Liberal Arts VE
Tu/Th 12:45-2:00 Math Teaching Methods (PK-2) JMc Visit to elementary school

Spring 2015

Day of Week Time of Day Type of Course Teacher Notes
MWF 9:20-10:10 Math for Liberal Arts JF Geometry (tentative)
MWF 10:25-11:15 Math for Liberal Arts JF Number Theory (tentative)
Tu/Thu 8:15-9:30 Math for Liberal Arts PKH
Tu/Thu 11:15-12:30 Math for Liberal Arts PKH
Tu/Th 11:15-12:30 Math for Liberal Arts VE
MWF 11:30-12:20 Calc II PKH iblcalculus.com
Tu/Thu 8:15-9:30 Calc II JF
Tu/Th 9:45-11:00 Differential Equations BJ
MWF 10:25-11:15 Math for Elementary Ed BJ Patterns, Reasoning, Algebra
MWF 12:35-1:25 Math for Elementary Ed BJ Patterns, Reasoning, Algebra
Tu/Th 9:45-11:00 Math Teaching Methods (K-6) VE Visit to elementary school
Tu/Th 12:45-2:00 Math Teaching Methods (K-6) BJ Visit to elementary school
Tu/Th 12:45-2:00 Math Teaching Methods (PreK-2) JMc Visit to elementary school

Fall 2014

Day of Week Time of Day Type of Course Teacher Notes
MWF 8:15-9:05 AM Math for Liberal Arts JF First Year
Tu/Th 9:45-11:00 Math for Liberal Arts PKH Ideas of Calculus
Tu/Thu 11:15-12:30 Math for Liberal Arts VE Games, geometry, art
Tu/Th 12:45-2:00 Math for Liberal Arts CvR Honors
MWF 11:30-12:20 Calc I JF
Tu/Th 7:50-9:30 AM Calc I PKH iblcalculus.com
Tu/Th 11:15-12:30 Calc III CvR
MW 2:45-4:00 Modern Geometries VE Math majors
Tu/Th 9:45-11:00 Complex Analysis BJ Math majors
MF 12:35-1:25 First Year Seminar JF/BJ Reasoning book
TR 12:45-2:00 Senior Seminar PKH Math majors
MWF 10:25-11:15 Math Methods (Secondary) CvR Visit to middle school
MWF 8:15-9:05 Math for Elementary Ed BJ Patterns, Reasoning, Algebra
MWF 9:20-10:10 Math for Elementary Ed BJ Patterns, Reasoning, Algebra
MW 3:50-5:10 Math for Elementary Ed JL Patterns, Reasoning, Algebra
Tu/Th 9:45-11:00 Math Teaching Methods (K-6) VE Visit to elementary school
Tu/Th 12:45-2:00 Math Teaching Methods (K-6) BJ Visit to elementary school
Tu/Th 12:45-2:00 Math Teaching Methods (PK-2) JMc Visit to elementary school