William Zahner

"I am a member of the faculty in the mathematics department at San Diego State University. My research, teaching, and service activities all focus on how we can improve mathematics learning for all students, especially English Learners and students from  groups underrepresented in STEM fields. I enjoy teaching and working with students from across grade levels, from middle school all the way through graduate school.”
 

Recent Publications

Zahner, W. Chapin, S., Levine, R. He, L.* & Afonso, R.* (2019). Examining the recruitment, placement, and career trajectories of secondary mathematics teachers prepared for high need schools. Teachers College Record.

De Araujo, Z., Roberts, S., Willey, C. & Zahner, W. (2018). English learners in K-12 mathematics education: A review of the literature. Review of Educational Research, 88(6), 879-919. https://doi.org/10.3102/0034654318798093

Zahner, W., Milbourne, H.*, & Wynn, L.* (2018). Developing and refining a framework for mathematical and linguistic complexity in tasks related to rates of change. Journal of Mathematical Behavior, 52, 21-36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmathb.2018.04.003

Mosckovich, J.N. & Zahner, W. (2018). A Situated and Sociocultural Perspective on Mathematical Communication: Uncovering Multiple Components of Activity during Peer Mathematical Discussions. ZDM Mathematics Education, 50(6), 999-1011. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11858-018-0982-9

Zahner, W., Dai, T., Cromley, J., Wills, T., Booth, J., Shipley, T., & Stepnowski, W. (2017). Coordinating Multiple Representations of Polynomials: What do Patterns in Students’ Solution Strategies Reveal? Learning and Instruction, 49, 131–141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.learninstruc.2017.01.007

Cromley, J. G., Booth, J. L., Wills, T. B., Chang, B. L. Tran, N., Madejad, M., Shipley, T. F., Zahner, W. (2017). Relation of Spatial Skills to Calculus Proficiency: A Brief Report. Mathematical Thinking and Learning, 19(1) 55-68. https://doi.org/10.1080/10986065.2017.1258614

Recent Presentations

Zahner, W. (2018, February). Developing prospective teachers' understanding of mathematics through engaging with representations of pedagogical dilemmas. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Association for Mathematics Teacher Educators, Houston, TX.

Walker, C., Zahner, W., & Wynn, L. (2018, January). Examining the Development of the Concept of Slope in one CCSSM-aligned Secondary Mathematics Text with a Focus on Enhancing Access for Linguistically Diverse Students. Abstract presented at the Joint Mathematics Meeting, San Diego, CA.

Wynn, L., Walker, C., & Zahner, W. (2018, January). Introducing Linear and Exponential Rates of Change in Linguistically Diverse Secondary Classrooms: Exploring Connections Among Curriculum, Tasks, and Student Understandings. Abstract presented at the Joint Mathematics Meeting, San Diego, CA.

Zahner, W., Lara-Meloy, T., Esteves, H., Vahey, P., Noble, T., Moorthy, S., Quarfoot, D. (2017, June). Leveraging dynamic representational technology to engage adolescent English learners in mathematical practices. Presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Jean Piaget Society, San Francisco, CA.

Current & Recent Research Projects

2016-2021. Principal Investigator.“CAREER: Designing Learning Environments to Foster Productive and Powerful Discussions among Linguistically Diverse Students in Secondary Mathematics.” Funding Agency: National Science Foundation (Award # 1553708), $922,263.

2016-2018. Co-Principal Investigator. “Partnering for Success: The Sweetwater/SDSU Mathematics Readiness Challenge.” (PI: O. Soto) Funding Agency: California Department of Education, $1,280,000.

2015-2018. Co-Principal Investigator. “Collaborative Research: Investigating How English Language Learners Use Dynamic Representational Technology to Participate in Middle School Mathematical Practices.” (PIs: Phil Vahey at SRI & Tracy Nobel at TERC). Funding Agency: National Science Foundation (Award # 1534626), total award $1,500,000.