RESEARCH FOCUS

To investigate the institutional barriers and the cognitive and affective blocks students face when taking mathematics at the college level. The knowledge generated from this research will be used for developing pedagogical processes and assessment practices that prepare students for success in college-level mathematics. This research will advance opportunities for students taking mathematics or mathematics-based courses to obtain the skills necessary to complete a college education and the confidence to pursue a college degree that requires advanced mathematical skills.

I am a first generation college student; the first women in my family to receive a degree beyond high school.

I started my career as a high school chemistry teacher in a Detroit, Michigan and worked in a street academy with marginalized students throughout the ‘70s and with community groups during the implementation of court ordered desegregation in the Detroit Public School.

I taught developmental mathematics education from 1990-2007. I was a program administrator of developmental education at the post-secondary level from 1980-2002. My research has been on the impact of developmental mathematics education highlighting the voices and views of the students in four year institutions. I have also taken a critical look at the pedagogy and materials used in developmental mathematics as a result of my research in the impact and effectiveness of developmental education.

I was born in Detroit and lived my adult life there until 2002. If anyone would have suggested that I uproot myself and family and move to Minnesota, I would have laughed. My family and I are glad to be in Minneapolis to experience its diversity and find our niche.

Academic and professional positions (selected)

Program administrator, developmental mathematics, Eastern Michigan University. Campus Dean/Director, Jordan College. President, Midwest Careers Institute.

SELECTED AWARDS AND GRANTS

• Ethnomathematics Reference List
  Resources for the developmental mathematics practitioner

Selected Publications

1. Fayon, A. K., Goff, E., & Duranczyk, I. M. (2010) Impacting the attitudes of ELL students in an Introductory Science Course through integrated learning communities. The Learning Assistance Review,  15(2), 7-19

2. Duranczyk, I. M. (2009). Technology resources: Mathematics accessibility for all not accommodation for some. MathAMATYC Educator, 1(1), 18-22.

3. Higbee, J. L., Duranczyk, I. M., & Ghere, D. L. (2008). Multicultural awareness project for institutional transformation: Making the case for Universal Instructional Design. In F. Ferrier & M. Heagney (Eds.), Higher education in diverse communities. global perspectives, local initiatives (pp. 60-65). European Access Network and Higher Education Authority, Ireland

4. Duranczyk, I. M. & Fayon, A. K. (2008). Successful undergraduate mathematics through universal instructional design of essential course components, pedagogy, and assessment. In J. L. Higbee & E. Goff (Eds.), Pedagogy and student services for institutional transformation: Implementing Universal Design in higher education (pp. 137-163).Minneapolis: University of Minnesota, College of Education and Human Development.

5. Duranczyk, I. M. (2008). Characteristics of successful developmental mathematics education programs and students Part III. The AMATYC Review, 30(1), 48-56.

6. Duranczyk, I. M. & Lee, A. (2007). Process pedagogy in a first-year learning community. Academic Exchange Quarterly, 11(2), 31-35.

Selected Presentations

1. Duranczyk, I. M. (February, 2011) Critical Multicultural Instruction for Undergraduate Mathematical Thinking Courses. Paper and Poster presented at the Seventh Congress of the European Society for Research in Mathematics Education (CERME). Rzeszow, Poland

2. Duranczyk, I. M. (2010, July), Integrated Multicultural Instructional Design (IMID) for undergraduate mathematical thinking courses. Paper (Duranczyk & Higbee) and poster presented at the International Conference on Ethnomathematics (ICEM), Towson, MD.

3. Duranczyk, I. M. (2010, May). Facilitating undergraduate mathematics education research goals among and between college campuses. Presentation at the MinnesotaMathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges and Minnesota Council of Teachers of Mathematics (MinnMATYC/MCTM)Spring Math Conference. Duluth, MN.

4. Lee, A., Williams, R., & Duranczyk I. M. (2010, February). Excellence for all: Integrating student learning and development. Presentation at the 29^th Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience (FYE), Denver, CO.

5. Higbee, J. L. Duranczyk, I. M. & Ghere, D. (2007, June). Multicultural awareness project for institutional transformation: Making the case for Universal Instructional Design. Paper presented at the 16th Annual Meeting of the European Access Network (EAN), Galway, Ireland.