Aina Appova

Biography

Aina Appova is an Associate Professor of Mathematics Education at The Ohio State University. She earned her PhD in mathematics education from the University of Missouri-Columbia and holds a master's degree in mathematics from Central Michigan University. Dr. Appova is a fellow of the Center for the Study of Mathematics Curriculum (CSMC), a $10 million program supported by the National Science Foundation (Award No. ESI-0333879). Over the past decade, she has developed and taught mathematics content and methods courses for prospective PK–8 teachers. Her research focuses on the learning trajectories, professional capacity, development, and continuum of both pre-service and in-service PK–8 mathematics teachers and teacher educators. Recently, as Principal Investigator on a 2-year funded grant project, Dr. Appova led an initiative that (statistically) significantly improved and enhanced children’s mathematics learning and achievement within a high-need, large urban school district with 100% of children receiving free breakfast and lunch at school and of diverse backgrounds and learning needs. This work involved a detailed examination of the pedagogical content knowledge, instructional practices, and collaborative efforts of K-5 mathematics teachers and teacher educators. 

Dr. Appova has been awarded more than $870000 in grants and project funding and continues to provide local and national professional learning sessions for PK-8 mathematics teachers. She has over fifty national and international publications, book chapters, conference proceedings and presentations, and has been invited as a Guest speaker on the national math education podcasts. For more information on her work, please visit her page: https://u.osu.edu/appova.1/ 

Education

• PhD, Mathematics Education, University of Missouri-Columbia
• MS, Mathematics, Central Michigan University

Research Interests

• Mathematics Teacher Education
  • Mathematics knowledge of K-8 teachers
  • Preservice education of K-8 mathematics teachers
  • Professional development of K-8 mathematics teachers
• Teacher Education

Research Summary

Appova's research is focused on the learning, development and professional continuum of PK-12 pre-service and in-service mathematics teachers including the work, knowledge and practices of mathematics teacher educators.