The Impact of an Undergraduate Led Mathematics Summer Camp on High School Students' Interest in Mathematics and Mathematics Teaching.

de la Cruz, Jessica; Goldman, Samantha

Considering the prevalence of mathematics teacher shortages in the United States, together with declining enrollments in teacher preparation programs, it is crucial for districts and teacher preparation programs alike to investigate new recruitment initiatives. In this pilot study, a university aimed to increase high school students' interest in mathematics and mathematics teaching through a 1-week summer mathematics camp led by university undergraduates who were participating in an experiential learning program in mathematics teaching. The undergraduates engaged the high school students in activities chosen to allow exploration and discovery related tp advanced mathematics topics. High school students expressed highly positive perceptions of the mathematics camp outcomes. Furthermore, participants experienced increased interest in mathematics at the end of the week and approximately one-third of participants attributed the camp to improving their likelihood of entering a teacher preparation program. Participants highlighted the positive classroom environment and focus on social emotional learning as strong contributors to the success of the camp. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.

UNITED States; STUDENT interests; HIGH school students; MATHEMATICS; SOCIAL emotional learning; SCHOOL camps; MATHEMATICS teachers

Investigations in Mathematics Learning, 2024, Vol 16, Issue 1, p52

1947-7503

Academic Journal

10.1080/19477503.2023.2291944