MathLab at Carleton University
Math Lab members, led by Dr. Jo-Anne LeFevre, conduct research on cognitive processes related to numerical and mathematical abilities, exploring various aspects of mathematical cognition across ages and cultures. Students at different academic levels actively contribute to numerous research projects, including those focused on improving literacy outcomes and investigating reading difficulties. Lab members engage in knowledge mobilization efforts through participation in academic conferences, workshops, and sharing research findings on social media platforms. We also collaborate with educators and community members to bridge the gap between research and practical applications.
Through my own experiences and speaking with other students, I have found that there are topics that are often overlooked as part of our regular academic requirements. The so-called ‘hidden curriculum’ can be hard to address since ‘you don’t know what you don’t know’. However, failing to address such topics can lead to further inequalities, which is why I’ve pushed to have more discussions about the hidden curriculum, accessibility, and best practices for knowledge mobilization.
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Since September 2022, have led and organized the weekly MathLab meetings. We focus on topics that can be of most help to the lab (i.e., how to get the most out of a conference, how to handle imposter syndrome, what makes a good presentation, what aspects of an academic CV are most important). Our meetings are a mix of workshops (e.g., multilevel modeling in R, academic writing), discussions (e.g., use of AI in academia, summer motivation), and presentations (e.g., research talks, guest speakers). We benefit from a varied membership, which allows us to gain perspective from all levels of academia.
Additionally, I manage our weekly Developmental Math Cognition Reading Group.
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The previous website was outdated and in dire need of an update. I worked with the Socials Team and the Director of the lab to redesign the menu, layout, and content. Among other things, we updated lab member profiles and our mission statement. We added a Knowledge Mobilization page, EDI statement, and information on how to join the lab. There were also a lot of changes made to the general layout and visuals. Many thanks to Mikaÿla Perrier who helped with design considerations and implementation.
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I created the MathLab Instagram and Twitter accounts soon after joining the lab in 2021. It was not long before I started the MathLab Socials Team, comprised of volunteers who help generate content, visuals, and post to our accounts. We work on creating educational quizzes and behind-the-scenes posts about our research, sharing hidden curriculum tips, simplifying our published research papers, quarterly newsletters, and much more!
In Spring 2024, I passed leadership of the team on to Liza Kahwaji; I now assist with content and quality checks when needed. Many thanks to past and present members of the Socials Teams for all their hard work!
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I created the MathLab logo and part of the logo for EMA@School (background created by Fraulein Retanal).