Pitt Greenburg’s Math Professor Awarded Early Achievement Award 

GREENSBURG, PA (PTTP)- Kayla Heffernan, a mathematics professor at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, has been honored with a national award for her creation of a college algebra textbook, “College Algebra: A Guided Inquiry”.

This textbook employs a teaching methodology known as guided inquiry, which encourages students to actively engage with the material through structured questioning and activities. This recognition underscores Heffernan’s innovative approach to teaching and her commitment to improving the learning experience for students in mathematics. 

The POGIL Early Achievement Award recognition is a testament to the significance of her work in bridging the gap between traditional POGIL materials primarily used in science disciplines and the realm of mathematics, specifically algebra. By creating a comprehensive textbook centered around guided inquiry principles, Heffernan has not only filled a crucial void in educational resources but has also paved the way for more effective and engaging instruction in college algebra. 

Heffernan was only one of two recipients of the POGIL Early Achievement Award for creating the first college algebra textbook for the nonprofit. “Pogil was very much only used for science, Chemistry, Biology, but there were no math materials for algebra” Kayla, Heffernan said “Then it turned into, well, I need to write them and it evolved into an entire textbook.” 

Credit: Pitt-Greensburg