Jim Wilson, a nationally recognized professor of mathematics education at the University of Georgia, has received the Lifetime Achievement Award for Distinguished Service to Mathematics Education from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM).
The NCTM presented Wilson with the award April 6 during the it's 79th annual meeting in Orlando, Fl., before some 18,000 fellow mathematics educators.
Originally from Kansas, Wilson served for 24 years as head of the mathematics education at UGA. Under his leadership the department grew in size and gained international standing. He has earned the title of "rainmaker" for his encouragement and support of students and peers in helping to bring their ideas to fruition.
"The national legacy of students who have been guided into their lifelong research careers by Jim is truly amazing. He will outlive all of us through his students," said one nominator.
During Wilson's 42-year career, his seminal scholarly contributions to mathematics education have focused on problem solving, assessment, and technology. He currently teaches a course on problem solving and his work in the area of assessment was groundbreaking. The influence of his chapter in the textbook, "Formative and Summative Evaluation of Student Learning" helped form the curriculum framework of important state, national and international assessments, including the National Assessment of Educational Progress. (NAEP).
A leader in research, Wilson was editor of NCTM's Journal for Research in Mathematics Education during a crucial time in its history and helped raise it to its current prominence. He is considered by many mathematics educators to be at the forefront of using technology in the teaching and learning of mathematics. Every class he teaches makes extensive use of technology and he maintains a Web site which receives 10,000 hits a week.
Wilson also has made a substantial contribution to mathematics education in the U.S. through his curriculum writing. He has authored two grades K-8 mathematics text series spanning over 20 years and authored a college methods text.
"He is a teacher, mentor, researcher, friend and generous human being who has ha tremendous influence on mathematics education nationally throughout his career," said another nominator in summing up Wilson's contributions.
Wilson joined UGA's faculty in 1969 as a professor and department head
of mathematics education. He received his Ph.D. in mathematics education
and master's in mathematics from Stanford University. He received another
master's from the University of Notre Dame, and a B.S. and an M.A. from
Kansas State Teachers College.
Tuesday, April 3, 2001
Writer: Michael Childs, 706/542-5889, mchilds@coe.uga.edu
Contact: James Wilson, 706/542-4552, jwilson@coe.uga.edu