Math and Equity in the Time of COVID: Teaching Challenges and Successes

Abstract

Background: This article describes teachers' equity concerns related to teaching mathematics online as a result of the COVID-19 pivot to online/distance-based instruction. COVID-19 restrictions forced the creation of virtual education contexts that magnified existing equity issues related to access to technology and the challenges of providing inquiry-based, student-centered instruction.Methods: This study took place under conditions promulgated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Nine teachers agreed to share their observations and experiences with the sudden switch to teaching mathematics online. Our methods included two online open response surveys. We qualitatively analyzed the responses from the surveys, coding for a priori, and emergent themes (Charmaz, 1995;Emerson et al., 2011). Findings:The results indicate that our participants experienced concerns for students and families struggling to effectively engage with and access online education, and shared the practices and online tools they found most and least helpful in enacting equitable instruction. Contribution:This work sheds light on how skilled and caring teachers leveraged prior experiences, collegial support, and technological tools to meet the challenges brought by the sudden transition to online mathematics pedagogy.

Equity in mathematics education

“…Teachers’ beliefs, expectations for students, access to resources, and students’ socio-economics status were all found to be relevant factors in supporting or constraining equity during the pandemic (Yilmaz et al, 2021 ). Although skilled and caring teachers leveraged prior experiences, innovative methods, collegial support and technological tools to support students and families (Ruef et al, 2022 ), distributing digital resources for supporting online mathematics education for under-resourced communities was especially challenging (Allen & Trinick, 2021 ). Remote instruction widened inequalities in mathematics learning (Yilmaz et al, 2021 ).…”