Lead Reseacher(s):  Dr. Christine Suurtamm, Dr. Barbara Graves

Description:  The Curriculum Implementation in Intermediate Mathematics (CIIM) research project was initiated in January 2006 to examine how this inquiry-oriented mathematics curriculum for Grades 7-10 in Ontario is implemented and understood by the multiple partners involved. In this report we describe the background, and evolution of this large-scale research initiative and share some of the research findings from the first year of the project.

Background:  In Fall 2005, the Ontario Ministry of Education introduced a revised curriculum in mathematics for Grades 1–10 that is a refinement of the previous mathematics curriculum introduced in elementary schools in 1997 and in secondary schools in 1999 for Grades 9 and 10. This curriculum encourages inquiry and the development of mathematical reasoning and engages students in mathematical activity to develop an understanding of mathematics concepts as well as mathematical skills. All teachers of intermediate mathematics in the province of Ontario are to implement this curriculum in their classrooms. As with all such important initiatives, those responsible for the initiative as well as those engaged in the initiative itself are interested in knowing how it is working. [See Connecting Practice and Research in Mathematics Education(CPR-M) for more detail.]

Reseach Assistants:  Ann Arden, Jennifer Hall, Tom Hillman, Adrian Jones, Martha Koch

Publications:

• CIIM Research Report - Year 1: Executive Summary, August 2007 (pdf, 450KB, 33pp.)

• CIIM Research Report - Year 1: Full Text, August 2007 (pdf, 781KB, 162pp.)

Office:  LMX 478

Telephone:  (613) 562-5800 Ext. 2225

Email:  bgraves@uottawa.ca

Website:  www.uottawa.ca/academic/education/profs/graves.html

Research interests:  Research into learning informed by sociocultural theory, embodied cognition, and complexity science; Mathematical reasoning in problem-solving; Mathematics teaching and learning; Classroom discourse processes.