Northwest Regional Comprehensive Center

National Mathematics Advisory Panel Report - Fact or Fiction Statements

The third NWRCC Mathematics Learning Community discussion of the Final Report of the National Mathematics Advisory Panel (NMAP) took place on October 29, 2008. In May, the Learning Community discussed the overview, purpose, and the principal messages of report. In July, a Webinar was conducted that included a presentation by Dr. Wade Boykin who provided in-depth information about the Learning Processes Task Group Report. This October meeting focused on some statements that have been attributed to the NMAP, some of which are true and some of which are not.

Fact or Fiction Statements

The following ten statements and whether they were ‘fact’ or ‘fiction’ were the focus of the webinar's discussion:

1. Instruction focusing on conceptual knowledge of fractions is likely to have the broadest and largest impact on problem-solving performance.
2. Calculators have limited or no impact on calculation skills, problem solving, or conceptual development.
3. The NMAP says the type of instruction doesn't matter.
4. Children cannot learn particular mathematical ideas because their brains are insufficiently developed.
5. Existing research does not provide definitive evidence for the specific mathematical knowledge and skill that are needed for teaching.
6. The NMAP only considered studies that used random-control methods.
7. Mathematics knowledge children bring to Kindergarten is not critical because it can be made up in later grades.
8. The Panel recommended Benchmarks for the Critical Foundations for being prepared for school algebra.
9. If math is taught using "real-world" contexts, performance on assessment of computation, simple word problems, and equation solving is not improved.
10. The NMAP says spiral curriculum is ineffective.

Webinar Goals

Shared and disseminated information about the National Mathematics Advisory Panel findings and recommendations.

Recording of Webinar

Math Learning Community Webinar III
October 29, 2008
1 hour 28 mins.