October 2022 NCSM Insider

One of the things I valued most about our time together was learning alongside everyone. I enjoyed the hugs and camaraderie, don’t get me wrong, but our purpose for gathering is to support one another in our own professional learning and leadership journeys.

As I participated in and observed the learning, I kept thinking about an idea I’ve been kicking around lately, knowledge mobilization. When you think about professional learning and networks, knowledge mobilization describes how people acquire, share, and use knowledge and information. It’s not sufficient to learn new ideas about your professional practice. For those ideas to be most meaningful, you have to actually use and employ them. Hence, the mobilization part.

I asked myself the question, where do I go for knowledge? Well, I’ve been a bookworm as long as I can remember, so I like to read to learn new ideas. I also value the practical knowledge that you can learn from other educators. When I was a classroom teacher, my department chair, Jean, generously offered her advice and guidance. Sometimes, I’d ask her to help me plan a lesson around an idea I picked up from reading or one of my grad school classes. Sometimes, I’d try a lesson in 1st period and then quickly seek her counsel on how to fix it for 2nd period. In any case, she always opened up her trove of practical knowledge and shared it with me so that I could build my own. A trusted mentor helped me acquire and use knowledge.

I’ve also often turned to conferences as a way to acquire and share knowledge. When I first started attending conferences such as CAMT, NCTM, or NCSM, I was tickled by how I could actually meet the people whose work I had been studying and using as a foundation for my own work. Listening to someone present their ideas and experiences breathes life into what you have read in their books and articles. You have the opportunity to ask them questions. Shake their hand. Take a selfie. It’s a powerful professional learning experience!

So now that we are basking in the glow of our first in-person Math Week in three fricking years (ha!), you’re probably, like me, still sorting through all the information and knowledge you picked up while in Anaheim and Los Angeles. Which brings me to the mobilization part…what will you do with that knowledge? How will you share it with colleagues? What part of your work will you revise based on what you now know?

Y’all be careful. We’ll touch base again in November.
Paul

This fall, NCSM is launching an exclusive interactive virtual series, NCSM Virtual Coaching Labs for the mathematics leadership community. These interactive sessions are designed to highlight coaching strategies and skills, provide a space for leaders to practice their coaching skills, and network with other mathematics leaders. Each session will include a topic of focus for the session, strategies and reflection questions to consider, and a problem of practice with role play opportunities in small groups.

Join us to connect with other bold mathematics leaders as you enhance your coaching skills!

You won’t want to miss these sessions!

Advance registration is required.  You can register by logging into your NCSM account and going to the registration page.  

Click on any image below for more info!!!!.

Latest NCSM Podcast - From Mona Toncheff, NCSM Past President & John SanGiovanni, RD for Eastern Region 2

Networking Nights with NCSM - From Jenny Novak NCSM Professional Learning Directors & Georgina Rivera

NCSM Inspiration! - From Kim Romain and Luis Lima, NCSM Inspiration Co-Editors

NCSM Journal of Mathematics Education Leadership - From Erin Lehmann & Paula Jakopovic, NCSM Journal Co-Editors

Essential Actions: Culturally Relevant Leadership in Mathematics Education

Regional Director Blog

\Joint Position Paper

Membership Info