Role Modeling

Description
Personal Reflection | 15 minutes

This reflection activity goes more in-depth about role modeling in math. The list below offers four recommendations to maximize the effectiveness of role models in math [4]. After reading through the following, reflect on how your own role models you've looked up to over the years may or may not align with the recommendations. Then, reflect on how the role models you introduce to your students align with the recommendations. Click here to download this page as a PDF. This reflection activity can:

Offer practical advice for educators who want to use role models in math learning.
Prompt educators to reflect on the relationship between role models and learning in general.

A three dimensional hexagon with examples of role modeling

Instructions

1. Portray role models as competent and successful.

Role models can be guest speakers or they can be embedded within anecdotal stories you share in class. Emphasize the role model’s journey of competency and success, instead of only their outcome. For example, focus on how the role models cultivate their skills over the years through hard work and overcome challenges. Make sure to avoid examples of extreme competence and success, as this could potentially backfire as students think “I could never do that.”

2. Make meaningful connections between role models and students.

Just showing examples of role models isn't always enough. Help students see the connections between themselves and the role model. Building these bridges helps students see that the ability of the role model is achievable within their particular context. Consider both broad traits (e.g., not just in terms of demographics, but also malleable traits such as being hardworking) and culturally specific traits (e.g. families, ethnicity, cultural context, etc.).

3. Prioritize role models from underrepresented groups in math/science.

All students benefit when they're presented with a diverse range of role models and social identities. Because of historic inequities, it's important to actively seek out examples of people who don't fit the historic assumptions about who's fit for math/science professions. Leverage technology (YouTube, websites focused on STEM and equality, etc) to celebrate a wide range of math/science role models. For more, see Culturally Responsive Relationships.

4. Emphasize how role model successes are attainable for students.

Role Models are useful not only because they model success, but also because they represent achievable paths any student could take in their math learning journey. Make sure to emphasize each small step the role model took as an aspect of their success. Also, make sure to tell the stories of confusion, set backs, failures, and mistakes as this makes the role model and the path they represent more relatable and attainable to students.

Tips and Tricks

Have anecdotes ready. It can be useful to identify a set of role models that personally inspire you. Think through why they inspire you, and even jot down a few notes to remember. Then, in your classroom/program as students struggle with math problems, you have a storehouse of role models you can refer to in real-time.

Make role models visible. Role models help students visualize their success. If possible, placing pictures of role models on the walls or even printing them on worksheets can help students visualize their connections to the role model.

Online Adaptation. Lean into the wealth of evolving online resources about role models in math/science. For example, check out initiatives like Women in STEM, resources like those curated by Pride in STEM, and impactful stories like “Through the Window and into the Mirror: Narratives of African American STEM Professionals” compiled by The National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Engaging Families. You can encourage families to connect math learning and academic success in general to a role model or special interest by sending this handout home.

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