About

Dr. Wendy Stienstra

Associate Professor, Education

P: 825-901-4886
Education
  • PhD Educational Studies, Lakehead University
  • MEd Educational Administration, Lakehead University
  • Teaching Certification (Secondary), Calvin College
  • BA Mathematics, Dordt College

Biography

Wendy's area of specialization is mathematics education. She is interested in the nature of mathematical understanding and the impact of teaching/learning strategies. Her PhD dissertation examines the development of mathematical understanding in elementary teacher candidates as they progress through a constructivist-oriented or reform-based remedial mathematics course. Using video taped interviews and problem solving sessions over time, as well as pencil and paper assessments, she focused on the learning continuum, or landscape, that reflects the conceptual development of mathematical understanding (and misunderstandings) in the areas of division, rational numbers, and ratio and proportion.

She began my career teaching high school mathematics and has now returned to that first love as she help pre-service teachers develop the pedagogical content knowledge necessary to teach mathematics. In between these bookends, Wendy has had a range of experiences from teaching elementary school to working with adults with developmental disabilities. She has come to value the uniqueness and creativity of each student as well as the patterns of creation and its Creator.

Courses