Title: A Shift in Pedagogical and Curricular Focus: Impacting Students' Understanding and Attitudes
Speaker: Richard Grassl, University of Northern Colorado and Tabitha Mingus, Morehead State University

The current research in mathematics education supports incorporating a variety of pedagogical techniques, such as the use of learning groups or technology, and creating a learning environment that caters to a wide range of learning styles. Most of the research being performed studies the effects of reform in service or introductory undergraduate courses or in the public school mathematics classrooms. We will detail the ways in which pedagogical reform has been incorporated into core undergraduate mathematics courses for secondary mathematics education majors. Team teaching, cooperative learning groups, technology, constructivist teaching techniques, inquiry lessons, and writing were consistently used throughout the semester in linear algebra, discrete mathematics, and abstract algebra. In addition to the changes made in the pedagogy, the curriculum of the courses has been revised to emphasize the connections that exist between the content taught in these courses. Linking this sequence of courses and using common techniques in the teaching of the courses makes this reform unique. We describe our content and affect related goals along with a shift in focus in pedagogy and curriculum. A description of the reform is followed by an assessment that reveal the impact on students.