The Future of Education

The original conceptual model of MathWorld, a math support program at St. Philip’s College, represented the researcher’s hypothesis of this program before conducting the study. Additionally, the model was a way of organizing the types of skills (hard, soft, critical thinking, and confidence/self-efficacy) in which the math support specialists and math faculty can assist students. Upon completion of the data collection and analysis, however, the researcher discovered that the original model needed adjusting. MathWorld’s reconceptualized model makes reference to emotional support and places emphasis on the activities connected to the aforementioned skills. The Transformation through Dynamic Interconnectivity (TDI) model is similar to the Reconceptualization of MathWorld’s model because it encompasses: (a) the same core practices (cultivating content-specific skills, supporting life skills, and providing holistic interventions), (b) the same categories of skills (hard, soft, critical thinking, confidence-building, and emotional support), and (c) the same characteristics of the core practices (processing information, demonstration, and connection). However, the integration of the aforementioned components creates the secret sauce of transformation through dynamic interconnectivity, which can be applied to a variety of subject areas, professional settings, and personal situations. The following sections provide an example of how the TDI Model can be utilized in the following settings: (a) subject area, (b) professional, and (c) personal. For each example, the supporting role players, in addition to the characteristics of each core practice, are identified. While this study specifically addressed developmental math, the core practices of the conceptual model are not limited to this subject area. Although this study comprised a community college, the core practices of the conceptual model are not limited to an educational setting. Whereas this study included lived experiences in a public location, the core practices of the conceptual model can also be practical in personal arenas.

Keywords: transformation, dynamic interconnectivity, MathWorld, TDI Model, integration, education;

References: 
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