VMT CSCL Workshop
June 2004
Prior Research at The Math
Forum
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System of Formative Evaluation
Theory Driven-Individual/Culture
Multiple Methodologies Employed
Participatory in Design
Understanding Online Community
Building and its Relationship to Learning
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Research Question I
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Does the Forum provide a meaningfully
different type of learning tool/enhancement
for mathematics education? What kind of a
resource does the Internet provide for
teachers, students, and/or parents and other
citizens? What kind of facilitation,
adjustments of existing resources and/or
mentoring relationships need to be made to
meet the strengths and needs of different
users? What is the impact of the Internet on
the development of mathematical thinking?
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Research Question II
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What role does the concept of community play in
Forum development? Additionally, what leads to
institutional sustainability and growth, volunteer
participation and collaboration, and partnerships for
a virtual resource center? What are the usage and
changed usage patterns of different groups of
participants? What adjustments are necessitated by
the pressures of scaling up and simultaneously
developing a self-sustaining infrastructure? What is
the impact of scaling up on project development,
partnerships, and Forum staff organization?
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Research Question III
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Taking the Forum as an exemplar of a link
between research and practice, what new
potential does the internet provide for linking
research and practice? What is the relation
between research in both mathematics
learning and student cognition and ongoing
practice as reflected in Forum-based: project
development, student learning, curriculum
development, professional development?
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Theoretical Frame
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Interest and Motivation Research
Social Networks and the Social
Construction of Community
Imagination of Community
Activity Theory and Cultural Psychology
Socio-Cognitive Approaches to Culture
Information Society/Globalization
Theory
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Methodological Frame
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Quasi-Experimental Research looking at
learning in social Context
Online Questionnaires
Focus Groups
In-depth Interviews
Ethnographic data collection
Quantitative and Qualitative analysis of video
taped classes and online discussion groups
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Selected Publications
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Renninger, K. A. (2003). A three-phase evaluation strategy for educational
impact. White Paper written for NSF NSDL Evaluation Workshop.
Renninger, K. A., & Farra, L. (2003). Mentor-participant exchange in the Ask Dr.
Math service: design and implementation considerations. In M. A. Mardis (Ed.)
Developing Digital Libraries for K-12 Education. ERIC Monograph Series pp.159173.
Renninger, K.A., Farra, L., & Feldman-Riordan, C. (2000). The impact of The
Math Forum’s Problems of the Week on students’ mathematical thinking.
Proceedings of ICLS 2000. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
Renninger, K. A. & Shumar, W. (in press). What do they want? Why do they
come? Participation at The Math Forum. In J. Weiss, J. Nolan, & P.
Trifonas, International Handbook of Virtual Learning Environments. Amsterdam:
Kluwer Press.
Renninger, K. A. & Shumar, W. (2004). The centrality of culture and community to
participant learning at and with The Math Forum. In S. Barab, R. Kling, & J. Gray
(Eds.), Designing for virtual communities in the service of learning (pp. 181-209).
New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.
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Selected Publications Continued
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Renninger, K.A. & Shumar, W. (2002). Community building with and for teachers: The
Math Forum as a resource for teacher professional development. In K.A. Renninger &
W. Shumar (Eds.), Building virtual communities: Learning and change in cyberspace (pp
60-95). New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.
Shumar, W. & Renninger, K.A. (2002). On community building. In K.A. Renninger &
W. Shumar (Eds.), Building virtual communities: Learning and change in cyberspace.
New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.
Shumar, W. (forthcoming) Interaction, imagination and community building at The Math
Forum. In de Figueiredo, A. D., & Afonso, A. P. (Eds.) Managing Learning in Virtual
Settings: The Role of Context. Hershey, PA: Idea Group, Inc.
Shumar, W. (2003) The Role of Community and Belonging in Online Learning, in M.
Mardis (Ed.) Developing Digital Libraries for K-12, Washington, DC: ERIC Monograph
Series.
Shumar, W. (2003) Internet Dreaming: Investigating Online Community at the Math
Forum. In A. B. Shostak (ed.) Viable Utopian Ideas: Shaping a Better World. M. E.
Sharpe.
The Math Forum BRAP Project (2000). Encouraging mathematical thinking: Discourse
around a rich problem (http://mathforum.org/brap/wrap/).
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