In this session, we will present our work in developing a community of practice for University of Sydney secondary mathematics education students. As coordinators of 12 secondary mathematics curriculum units of study, we develop a strong sense of community amongst secondary mathematics students through a relational and community-building approach to learning. This year, we have launched a professional learning community for these students (PrISM: Professional Innovations in Secondary Mathematics) to ensure present and past students can continue building and connecting with the community of secondary mathematics educators we establish at the university. We will present the value of these communities, reflecting on increases in students’ autonomy, self-efficacy, and resilience as they prepare to graduate and engage in their first years as professionals. Throughout this workshop, we will model and discuss the practices we employ in class that help establish these communities, which has now blossomed into the establishment of PriSM. For participants, this workshop will be interactive and focused on application of these strategies in various contexts across the university. We will engage participants in engaging, hands-on, and reflective workshop activities where they will collaboratively interrogating potential avenues to develop learning communities in their own contexts, driven by a key focal question “What does a vibrant community of practice for past and present students look like in my teaching context?”.
Teaching@Sydney