Interactive Mathematics Program (IMP)

Program that Works

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Summary

IMP was developed through a collaboration of mathematicians, teacher‑educators, and teachers. IMP is a four‑year curriculum of problem‑based mathematics that replaces the traditional Algebra I‑Geometry‑Algebra II/Trigonometry‑Pre-calculus sequence. The IMP curriculum integrates traditional material with additional topics, such as statistics, probability, curve fitting, and matrix algebra. IMP units are generally structured around a complex central problem with other topics brought in as needed to solve the central problem. Ideas that are developed in one unit are usually revisited and deepened in one or more later units.

Target Population

: High school students. Also, mathematicians, teacher educators, and teachers develop curriculum and accompanying professional development.

Goal(s)

To exemplify the curriculum reform called for in the Curriculum and Evaluation Standards of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM).

Program Highlights

IMP is one of three comprehensive high school curriculums the Department of Education has identified as “Exemplary” for providing evidence of its effectiveness in schools with diverse populations.
Students involved in IMP perform better than other students on quantitative reasoning tests such as the SATs.

The Facts

Year introduced:1991

Number of schools:The program does not address the number of schools utilizing this curriculum

Costs:The cost to purchase the curriculum for each year is approximately $200

Region:National

Partners

Higher Education

Business

Non-Profit / Philanthropy

Key Curriculum Press

Government

National Science Foundation
U.S. Department of Education

Evidence of Impact

Studies of IMP participation consistently show that students enrolled in IMP classes perform better on the SATs, quantitative reasoning tests and have higher GPAs for their mathematics courses than students not enrolled in IMP.

Study 1:

IMP Students Score Higher Than Their Peers on SAT-9: An IMP-sponsored study found that students in IMP classes scored significantly higher on the SAT and other test (ranked in the top 10 percent of all test-takers) than their non-IMP counterparts

Study 2:

Research Supporting the Interactive Mathematics Program: An IMP-sponsored study found that IMP classes have a positive effect on student achievement regardless of ethnicity. A higher percentage of students involved in IMP completed at least three years of college-preparatory mathematics than non-IMP students, regardless of ethnicity. This study also showed that IMP students had statistically significant higher overall GPAs and mathematics GPAs than non-IMP students.

Extent of evidence:Three evaluations; one independent and two conducted by IMP.

Evidence of replicability:No information available about how many districts use it.

Other resources or research:

http://www.nychold.com/imp.html

Contact Information

Lisa Doak , [Email Hidden - Click to View]
Interactive Mathematics Program
P.O. Box 2891
Sausalito, CA 94966
(415) 332-3328
http://www.mathimp.org

IMP.pdf

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