From Data to Discovery: Building Deeper Conceptual Understanding with TI Technology and Real-World Investigations

March 28, 2026, 8:30 am - 11:30 am, Grand Junction, CO (Specific location TBD)

Lunch is included and will be served following the workshop. 

Facilitated by Brian Duncliffe @ Texas Instruments, [email protected].

Workshop Description:

  • Are your students struggling to see the connections between mathematical concepts and their real-world applications? Do they view slope as just "rise over run" without understanding its power as rate of change across disciplines? More importantly, are they disengaged during traditional instruction?

  • In this hands-on session, you'll discover how to transform abstract mathematical concepts into tangible learning experiences that bridge math and science while creating an actively engaged classroom environment. Using TI graphing technology and data collection sensors, you'll explore student-centered investigations that make core concepts like slope, rate of change, linear relationships, geometry and functions come alive through authentic data collection—turning passive learners into active investigators.

You'll experience

  • Hands-on investigations using TI technology and sensors to collect real-time data from physical phenomena (motion, temperature change and more)

  • Student engagement strategies that transform your classroom into an active learning lab where students are doing mathematics, not just watching it

  • Cross-curricular connections that show how the same mathematical concepts appear in science and the world around them—making learning relevant and meaningful

  • Vertical alignment strategies to reinforce key concepts across grade levels, from Middle School through Calculus

  • Ready-to-implement activities that engage students in the full inquiry cycle: predict, collect, analyze, and interpret their own data

  • Collaborative learning structures that promote student discourse, peer teaching, and shared discovery

  • Differentiation techniques to meet diverse learner needs while maintaining rigor and engagement for all

Why attend?

Student engagement soars when learners become active participants in their own discovery. When students collect and analyze their own data, they develop ownership of mathematical concepts that transcend individual courses while staying motivated and invested in the learning process. You'll leave with practical strategies and classroom-ready activities that help students recognize key concepts while building the conceptual flexibility essential for college and career readiness, all within a dynamic, student-centered classroom environment.

Perfect for: 

High school and middle school math teachers, department chairs, instructional coaches, and STEM coordinators seeking to deepen student understanding, increase engagement, and create active learning environments through technology-enhanced, inquiry-based instruction.

Takeaways: 

Lesson plans, data collection files, classroom management strategies for active learning, and implementation guides you can use immediately to energize your classroom.