Research and Scholarship

As a math educator, research and teaching go hand-in-hand. See below for more information about my research interests and other scholarly activity.

Dissertation Title: The Effects of a Framework for Procedural Understanding on College Algebra Students' Procedural Skill and Understanding. (abstract | pdf)

Research Interests: I am currently exploring the ways that students can come to understand mathematics procedures. In particular, I am investigating the impact of the eight-question Procedural Understanding Framework that I used in my dissertation research, where it was used to successfully advance students' procedural understanding of algebra. It is my belief that unless procedures are taught with a focus on understanding, gains in procedural knowledge will be limited in both scope and duration. Without understanding, such knowledge is of little use.

Curriculum Vitae: My full curriculum vita (pdf) is available for download (last updated Nov. 26, 2008).

Selected Activities (Research, Scholarship, and Service):
(Last updated: Nov. 2009)

Nov. 2009 Conference Talk. Hasenbank & Kosiak. "Teaching for Understanding and Its Impact on Students' Learning in Algebra." NCTM Regional in Minneapolis.
Sep 2008-Jun 2009 External Grant Evaluation. Improving Educator Quality grant E2 at Northern Kentucky University. Lenore Kinne, Director.
May 2009 Conference Talk. Hasenbank & Kosiak. "Promoting Student Understanding of Algebra." Wisconsin Mathematics Council's Annual Meeting in Green Lake.
Apr 2009 K-12 Outreach. Hasenbank & Kosiak. "How Stuff Works!" STEM Saturdays Program, UW-La Crosse.
Apr 2009 Conference Talks. (1) Hasenbank, Kosiak, & Belter: "The Algebraic Understanding of High School Students"; (2) Hoar, LeDocq, Kosiak, & Hasenbank: "MathCasting: Documenting Critical Thinking in Undergraduate Mathematics", and (3) Hasenbank & Kosiak: "Developing Preservice Elementary Teachers' Algebraic Understanding." MAA-Wisconsin Section Annual Meeting, La Crosse, WI.
Sep 2008 - Mar 2009 Statistical Consulting. Indiana University grant evaluation of the long-term impact of training in the use of reform mathematics curricula. Maynard Thompson, Director.
Feb 2009 Conference Talks. Hasenbank & Kosiak: "Teaching for Understanding: Impact on Learning in Algebra," and
Kosiak & Hasenbank: "Exploring Mathematics in the Elementary School Classroom." Western Wisconsin Education Conference, La Crosse.
Feb 2009 Invited Talk. Hasenbank. "Teaching for Understanding: An Evolving Perspective." Northern Kentucky University IEQ Grant Follow-up Session. 
Jan 2009 Conference Talk. Hasenbank & Kosiak. "Algebraic Habits of Mind among Pre-service Elementary Teachers." Faculty Research Day, UW-La Crosse.
Jan 2009 Conference Talks: Kosiak & Hasenbank. "Teaching for Understanding through a Professional Development Partnership", and "Focusing on Algebraic Understanding using a Student-Centered Questioning Framework." MAA Joint Meetings, Washington D.C.
Spr 2009 Undergraduate Research: Faculty mentor for a team of undergraduate students developing podcasts for the PRAXIS-WI project at UW-L. Here are our results.
Oct 2008 K-12 Outreach. Hasenbank & Kosiak. "Where on Earth?" STEM Saturdays Program, UW-La Crosse.
Aug 2008 Conference Talk: Hasenbank, Kosiak, & Belter. "Impact for Teaching for Understanding Experiment in 8 – 12th Grade mathematics." MAA MathFest 2008, Madison.
Jul 2008 K-12 Outreach. Kosiak & Hasenbank. "Experimenting with Mathematics" Young Scholars program.
Su 2008 Undergraduate Research: Faculty mentor for a Dean's Distinguished Undergraduate Research Fellow's project entitled "Assessing Growth in Procedural Understanding in 8-12 Mathematics."
Jun 2008 K-12 Outreach. Hasenbank. "Candy Meteors and Other Sweet Math." Girls in Science workshop.
Jun 2008 Conference Talk & Paper: Hasenbank & Kosiak. A Digital Observation Instrument for Quantifying Educator Effectiveness (presentation | paper). Wisconsin Research Seminar on Improving Educator Quality, Wisconsin Dells, WI.
May 2008 Conference Talk: Hasenbank, Kosiak, and nine 8-12 teachers (three sessions). "Teaching Math for Understanding - Our Shared Experience." Wisconsin Mathematics Council's Annual Meeting, Green Lake, WI.
Mar 2008 K-12 Outreach: Saturday training session for WITQ 2007 participants (with Dr. Kosiak), UW-La Crosse.
Feb 2008 Conference Talk: Chaouki & Hasenbank. "A Deeper Understanding of Algebra/Math". Western Wisconsin Educators Conference, La Crosse, WI.
Jan 2008 Journal Article: Hasenbank & Kosiak. "The Implementation of a Framework for Procedural Understanding in 7-12 Mathematics." Wisconsin Teacher of Mathematics.
Jan 2008 Conference Talk: Hasenbank & Hodgson. "The Impact of an Algebra Framework on Understanding and Skill in College Algebra." Joint Meetings of the American Mathematical Society (AMS) and the Mathematical Association of America (MAA). San Diego, CA.
Spr 2008 Undergraduate Research: Faculty mentor for a team of undergraduate students developing a series of PRAXIS Learning Objects at UW-L. Here are some resources.
 
Nov 2007 Service: Mathematics training sessions for La Crosse Tribune staff (with Dr. Kosiak).
Oct 2007 K-12 Outreach: Saturday training session for WITQ 2007 participants (with Dr. Kosiak).
Aug 2007 Journal Article (under review): Hodgson, Hasenbank, Burke, Harper (2007). "Building Competence by Building Connections: A Framework for the Teaching and Learning of Algebra." AMATYC Review.
Aug 2007 K-12 Outreach: One-week professional development workshop for Improving Understanding in Algebra grant (with Dr. Kosiak).
Aug 2007 K-12 Outreach: Assisted Dr. Kosiak with teacher in-service at Onalaska High School (Standards-based instruction for special needs and gifted students).
Jun 2007 K-12 Outreach: Designed and taught the Girls in Science session "Candy Meteors and Other Sweet Math."
May 2007 Conference Talk: "Procedural Understanding in Mathematics - A Framework for Building Connections (pdf)." Presented at the Wisconsin Math Council's Annual Conference in Green Lake, WI.
2007-08 External Grant: Wisconsin ESEA Improving Teacher Quality Grant entitled Professional Development Partnership for Improving Understanding in Algebra (with Dr. Kosiak, Co-PI).
Mar 2007 Conference Proceedings: Presented paper entitled A Framework for Developing Algebraic Understanding & Procedural Skill: An Initial Assessment at the 2007 SIG-MAA Conference on RUME.
Spr 2007 Undergraduate Research: Faculty mentor for a team of undergraduate students developing a series of PRAXIS Learning Objects at UW-L.

Future Math Education Conferences: