Travis Olson, Ph.D
Professor
Biography
Travis A. Olson is a professor of mathematics education in the Department of Teaching & Learning. He teaches courses on learning and teaching mathematics and advises doctoral students’ research. He has significantly contributed to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics, the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators, and the Research Council on Mathematics Learning. Notably, he is a former president of the Research Council on Mathematics Learning.
Research Expertise
Olson conducts research on mathematics curriculum materials, teacher mathematical understandings, and teacher reasoning and curricular decisions. He also investigates scientific and mathematical perspectives on consciousness to deepen understanding of the learning of mathematics, and to inform the work of teachers of mathematics. He participated in a collaborative research team that developed the Curricular Reasoning Toolkit consisting of an observation protocol and self-survey for teachers to reflect on and further develop their practice.