John Jerome Paul Chair in Research for Equity in Mathematics Education

The John Jerome Paul Chair in Research for Equity in Mathematics Education aims to address the disparity in educational outcomes for Mi'kmaw and African Nova Scotian youth by focusing on research in schools serving students from these two populations. The chair is generously funded by the Jeannine Deveau Educational Foundation and is currently held by Dr. Lisa Lunney Borden. The goals of the chair as established in the terms of reference are:

1. To examine pedagogical factors that can improve mathematics achievement for students identified by the achievement gap in Nova Scotia, particularly students of Mi’kmaq and African Nova Scotian descent;

2. To engage in research that implements and examines culturally based approaches to mathematics education such as spatializing and verbing mathematics curriculum and engaging in inquiry projects similar to the highly acclaimed Show Me Your Math program;

3. To critically examine provincial and school-based assessment practices to determine whether or not they are culturally appropriate;

4. To make recommendations about culturally appropriate means of mathematics assessment;

5. To promote mathematics educational practices that honour and draw upon the historic knowledges and practices of African Nova Scotian and Mi’kmaw communities.

Work emerging from this research can be found at the following websites:

Showmeyourmath.ca