Why you should join the Academy for Inquiry Based Learning
Membership of AIBL: The Academy is an association of professors, instructors, teachers and non-teaching supporters (such as retired professors having substantial IBL experience, administrators, foundation personnel) who are committed to developing and disseminating guided inquiry based learning (IBL) techniques.
Goals of AIBL: The central goals of the Academy are promotion and development of IBL approaches to the teaching of mathematics. The underlying belief is that a guided inquiry learning experience should be available to all college/university students. Typical mathematics major sequences should include the possibility of two or three semesters of effective IBL courses in which students can experience independent discovery of mathematical ideas.
Methods and Tactics of AIBL: The Academy will foster development and dissemination of IBL techniques through
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Development of a central, searchable database providing (1) IBL syllabi and (2) contact information about AIBL members who have taught IBL courses, sorted by topic (analysis, algebra, number theory, etc.), type of institution (large public university, small liberal arts college), geographical area.
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Dissemination of IBL teaching and learning materials, e.g. teaching course guides from JIBLM (the Journal of Inquiry-Based Learning in Mathematics).
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Support and encouragement of new IBL users (mentoring, access to meetings and materials).
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Organization of regular meetings and workshops illustrating IBL best practices.
Resources available to AIBL membership:
Financial support—AIBL, in cooperation with the Educational Advancement Foundation, is publicizing a small grant program with the goal of supporting IBL users or new users who want to establish a new IBL course at their current or at a new institution. In 2009 21 grants were awarded.
A second round of small grants will be awarded during Spring/Summer 2010 to support and foster the practice and development of inquiry-based approaches to mathematics instruction at American colleges and universities. Submissions will be accepted from February 15, 2010 until July 19, 2010. Proposals for projects to start in the Fall semester, 2010, and which are received before March 15, 2010, will be eligible for a first set of awards to be announced by May 1, 2010. All other awards will be announced by August 19, 2010.
Logistical support—Advising, mentoring, communicating with peers also developing IBL courses, and communicating with experienced IBLers who can advise in developing an IBL course, read over grant or curriculum proposals prior to submission, or visit ongoing classes and provide feedback.
To join or to request more information:
Send email to aibl@edu-adv-foundation.org
To apply for an AIBL grant:
Follow the instructions in the AIBL
guidelines
(Word
Document - right click and save target as...)
Be
sure to also include the Small
Grant Cover Page
(Word
Document - right click and save target as...)
