The San Antonio Regional Community for Mathematics Inquiry in Teaching (or SA-COMMIT) supports effective mathematics teaching by fostering collaboration among teachers who wish to engage students in learning through inquiry. Because collaboration among teachers is essential to the successful practice of inquiry-based learning, the SA-COMMIT recognizes and values the assets and expertise that all individuals contribute to our conversations about teaching and learning. The diversity of experiences that members bring to our community helps all of us create learning experiences that are inclusive, responsive to our students’ diverse perspectives, and affirming of all students’ mathematical strengths and potential.
We recognize that a commitment to helping students learn through inquiry does not, in and of itself, ensure that learning experiences will be accessible and affirming for all learners. Because student collaboration is a cornerstone of inquiry-based learning, it is not sufficient for teachers to have the implicit belief that all students have mathematical ability and potential. As practitioners of inquiry-based learning, we believe in creating opportunities for students to learn from each other’s unique experiences and strengths and offering classroom experiences that challenge traditional narratives about who can make important contributions to mathematics. Therefore, we support our community not only in structuring the mathematical content of courses for inquiry, but also in learning to orchestrate lessons with attention to equity and the development of students’ mathematical identity and agency.
There are many terms used to describe approaches to the teaching and learning of mathematics that are based on student inquiry. Two of the major strands that informed the first IBL Communities in our network are the practice-focused tradition of Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL), and the theory-focused tradition of Inquiry-Oriented Instruction (IOI), both of which are represented in our communities. Their common goals are often summarized by the four pillars:
students engage deeply in rich mathematics
students have opportunities to collaboratively process mathematical ideas (e.g., via small groups, student presentations, in-depth classroom discussions)
instructors inquire into student thinking
instructors facilitate equitable engagement.
National workshops have been offered for over a decade by the Academy of IBL, which have helped the international IBL community evolve toward the “big tent” view of IBL being inclusive of any courses which follow the above pillars.
A regional COMmunity for Mathematics Inquiry in Teaching (COMMIT) is a local group of college math instructors interested in practicing and disseminating teaching and learning techniques centered on student inquiry. These communities aim to provide evidence-based support mechanisms, through professional development, mentoring, and collaborations, to help members sustainably transform their teaching. COMMIT communities provide ongoing access to professional development without the need of a plane ticket to a national conference or workshop.
Each community is in a better position to understand the needs of instructors of the local region than a national organization can be, thus allowing for a grassroots route to bringing an inquiry experience to every student. Our local communities of practitioners develop trusting relationships, forming a community of transformation in which participants are comfortable sharing not only their successes in teaching but also their challenges.
SA-COMMIT is a grass roots community effort, and all faculty interested in active or student-centered learning in this regional community are invited to join us. The coordinating leadership team of SA-COMMIT currently consists of:
Since SA-COMMIT is a community effort, we need your help! Please contact us with your ideas for organizing events for SA-COMMIT. You can reach all of us at sacomathinquiry@gmail.com.
If you would like more information about our community, do not hesitate to contact us at sacomathinquiry@gmail.com
If you would like us to facilitate a professional development activity, please contact us at sacomathinquiry@gmail.com
If you are interested in helping organize inquiry activities, please contact us sacomathinquiry@gmail.com
Join by clicking the button at the top of this webpage, or send an email to sacomathinquiry@gmail.com letting us know you would like to apply for membership. You will be added to our regional community email list which announces IBL-related events and provides an opportunity for you to ask for (and offer) mentorship and professional development as it relates to IBL.
Are you posting on social media about your regional COMMIT events? Include our hashtag: #COMathInquiry or tweet us at @COMathInquiry