Welcome aboard the ARGO!

In the spirit of the classical adventures of Jason and the Argonauts, our new Problem/Project-Based curriculum, ARGO Math, is an inspiring approach to mathematics education. Much as the ARGO was the ship captained by Jason, our ARGO curriculum is the vehicle in which students will travel as they complete Quests. On their journey, they will explore and address a wide-range of real-world problems and meet engaging career role models from all walks of life. ARGO Math is built on JASON Learning’s research-based model for math instruction. Covering all the major domains of the middle school math curriculum — Geometry, Algebra, Numbers and Statistics and Probability — ARGO Math is built on JASON Learning’s research-based model for math instruction:

Activate — engage with key math concepts

Relate — build skills through real-world problems

Guide — identify and rectify misconceptions

Optimize — apply learning to build solutions to important, relevant challenges.

Justin Maffei, former high school mathematics teacher, current STEM Coordinator in a Virginia Public School Division, and member of the ARGO Math curriculum development team joined JASON at the National Educators’ Conference in Houston on March 28th where we had the opportunity to introduce ARGO Math for the very first time in a conference session. We asked him a few questions to get the inside scoop on ARGO Math!

Q: Hi Justin! How did you come to be a part of the curriculum development team for ARGO Math?

In the fall of 2018, Shelly Pine (a colleague from a neighboring division) and I presented at a conference on the topic of putting the M in STEM. After that, she told me of an opportunity to work with JASON Learning to create a math-centered STEM curriculum designed for middle school. I was very excited for the opportunity. We began our work on the curriculum at the beginning of 2019. It has been a true joy working with Luk Hendrik, Grace Allstrom, Juliana Texley, Dee McLellan, and Deb Hill to have the first “Quest” ready to be unveiled at JNC Texas.

Q: What are you most excited for teachers to experience with Argo Math?

I am very excited for teachers to experience the engagement that this curriculum will organically cause with their students. The curriculum is based on real-world problems; not contrived real-world problems, true problems that are worthy of engagement. The way the curriculum is designed allows for students to participate in productive struggle and patient problem solving, leading to greater perseverance. Students will be taking on accountability of their learning as it will be inspirational and relevant.

Q: What is your favorite part or lesson so far in Argo Math?

For my entire educational career, I have heard the discussions and research around the need for higher expectations for students and for better differentiation; however, I struggled to find resources which supported those needs concurrently. I have seen resources which place high expectations on students and leave it to educators to figure out the necessary supports. I have also seen resources which provide the supports without the high expectations. This curriculum is designed to meet both needs. Students start with a Quest, a high-level real-world problem. Through this, students and teachers will be able to discover areas where skills are needed. Instructional resources are then provided to allow students to gain those skills through discovery and practice. I am excited that this curriculum will be able to meet both needs and provided needed resources to teachers.

It is hard to choose a favorite lesson. The Anticipate section is important as it lays the context of the Quests and gets the students hooked. I love the Guide lessons which allow students to discover why the formulas and algorithms work, leading to greater retention. I also really enjoy the Relate lessons which connect the skill to an activity that students will experience in the real world. Optimize lessons connect back to the Quest and require the students to apply the skills that they should have now attained. Finally, the Quest Progress section is an assessment section which will give the teacher important information on the status of the students’ learning. Without any of the individual pieces, ARGO Math would not provide the resources to meet student needs.

Q: You were recently at the JNC in Houston where we introduced Argo Math to the attendees. What was the reaction of the participants in that session?

That session was a lot of fun. The participants were excited to see a math-centered curriculum and especially one that aligned to the core traits of JASON Learning. I think that they would say that they appreciate the role that this curriculum will play. Most STEM curricula are centered on science, technology, or engineering. This curriculum is rare in that math will be the central guide of the lessons.

Q: Any “hot tips” you can provide to our JASON community about using Argo Math in the classroom?

The best suggestion that I can provide to any educators is to be willing to take a risk. We are going to ask students to do the same. Take a risk, make mistakes, fix those mistakes, and learn because of that. A growth mindset will be essential for all involved. This curriculum is built to challenge students, allow them to make a mistake, learn how to fix the mistake, and get right back on track. Research has shown that mistakes help to make our brain grow.

While this curriculum is designed to flip math instruction on its head by starting with a large problem and scaffolding as necessary, it is also very flexible. This is essential in the classroom as no two classrooms are ever exactly the same. The flexibility that this curriculum provides will allow teachers to better meet the needs of their students.

Q: What’s one thing you can tell our community to look forward to in the future of math curricula in JASON?

This does not look like a traditional mathematics curriculum because the traditional mathematics curriculum struggles to work in conjunction with best instructional practices. Many math educators understand that changes need to be made, but see too many obstacles. The hope is that JASON will help to remove at least one of those obstacles by providing resources which will allow instruction to be low floor-high ceiling, reaching all students at the level they require.

ARGO Math is now available on JASON Learning. Look for the new tile “Geometry- Here’s Looking at Euclid”