Faculty

Karen D. King

Associate Professor of Mathematics Education

Karen D. King

Phone: 212 998 5862
Email:

Karen D. King, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Mathematics Education at New York University’s Steinhardt School of Culture Education and Human Development previously served as a Program Director at the National Science Foundation (NSF) in the former Division of Elementary, Secondary, and Informal Education where she managed projects primarily in the Teacher Professional Continuum (TPC) Program, but she also was responsible for curriculum projects in Instructional Materials Development (IMD) and policy for the Education and Human Resources Directorate. She received her Ph.D. at the University of Maryland, where she conducted research on undergraduate mathematics teacher thinking.  Her current research focuses on the mathematics preparation of elementary and secondary teachers, the role of mathematical knowledge for teaching in the mathematical integrity of reform mathematics lessons, and the policies of mathematics teacher professional development. She is the principal investigator of two NSF-funded research grants focusing on: (1) understanding the mathematical preparation of future secondary teachers ($500,000) and (2) the how teachers use innovative middle school mathematics materials and its impact on student learning (~$1,000,000). She is also co-PI of an NSF-funded Noyce Fellowship grant housed at NYU ($750,000).

 

She previously served as the associate editor of the Journal for Research in Mathematics Education and was a member of the RAND Mathematics Study Panel, which made recommendations to the Department of Education about future research funding in mathematics education. She recently completed a three year term as a member of the Research Committee of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and serves on numerous committees focusing on research in mathematics education and teacher education with national organizations including the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators and the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. She currently is completing her second two-year term on the Board of Directors for the Federal City Public Service Foundation, where she has served as Recording Secretary and is the current Treasurer.


Courses

E12.1045/E12.2035 Teaching of Algebra and Trigonometry - Spring 2008, Fall 2008, Fall 2009

E12.2007 Curriculum and Assessment in School Mathematics - Fall 2006, Fall 2007

E12.2008 Research Investigations in Mathematics Education - Spring 2006

E12.3015 Mathematics Curriculum Research and Evaluation - Fall 2008

E12.2104 Mathematical Investigation and Problem Solving - Fall 2009

E27.3001 Dissertation Proposal Seminar - Fall 2006, Fall 2007

 

Course Blog

    Degrees Held

    • Ph.D. University of Maryland 1997
      Education, Curriculum and Instruction - Mathematics Education
    • B.S. Spelman College 1991
      Mathematics (Magna Cum Laude)

    Publications

    • Curriculum Vitae (view)

    Research Interests

    • Mathematics Education
    • Teacher Education and Professional Development
    • Federal Education Policy

    Research Grants

    Teachers’ Use of Standards-Based Instructional Materials (PI; co-PIs, Carole Mulligan, Monica Mitchell of QEM Network, and May Samuels of Newark Public Schools), National Science Foundation, Division of Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings, $998,957, September 1, 2007-August 31, 2010.

    CAREER: Examining the mutual construction of learning and teaching in university mathematics classrooms, National Science Foundation, Division of Research, Evaluation, and Communication, $500,000, August 1, 2001-October 31, 2009 (deferred during tenure at NSF).

    POWRE: Technology Use in a Differential Equations Course, National Science Foundation, Division of Research, Evaluation, and Communication, $61,754, from Sep 1, 1999 to Feb 28, 2002

    Presentations

    • Role of the Teacher in Large-Scale Urban Mathematics Curriculum Reform
      Presentation given as part of a symposium at the Annual Research Presession of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, April 22, 2009(view)
    • The Missing Link between Research on Mathematics Curriculum Effectiveness and Policy: Theory as a Mediator
      Presentation given at the University of Georgia, March 3, 2009(view)
    • Examining Mathematical Knowledge for Teaching in Secondary and Post-Secondary Contexts
      Presentation given with Natasha Speer at the Annual Meeting of the Special Interest Group of the Mathematical Association of America on Research in Undergraduate Mathematics Education (SIGMAA on RUME), March 1, 2009(view)

    Editorial Boards

    • 2000-2004: Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, Associate Editor