May 6, 2010. CCNMTL Educational Technologist Michael Preston presented research on the CCNMTL-developed tool, VITAL, at the American Educational Research Association (AERA) annual meeting held at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, CO on May 4, 2010. Entitled "Video Analysis as a Method for Developing Preservice Teachers' Beliefs about Teaching and their Understanding of Children, Pedagogy, and Assessment" and sponsored by SIG-Mathematics Education, the symposium featured research papers by Preston, as well as representatives from Teachers College and Rutgers University. VITAL co-developer and Teachers College Professor Herbert Ginsburg served as chair and UCLA professor Jim Stigler as discussant for the symposium.

The research presented focuses on early childhood teacher preparation in mathematics, including the development of model courses, an extensive video library, and the VITAL web-based video analysis system, which combine to provide preservice teachers with intellectually-stimulating learning experiences that vividly portray the processes of children's mathematical thinking and learning and help teachers develop skills relevant to assessment and teaching. Visit the VITAL informational site to view the conference summary and read the papers presented.