Dr. Jennifer Tobias
Professor
- About
- Education
- Awards & Honors
- Selected Research
Current Courses
MAT 130.008 Dimensions Of Numerical Reasoning
MAT 599.007 Dissertation
MAT 490.006 Research In Mathematics, Math Ed & Applied Mathematics
MAT 408.001 The Teaching And Learning Of Rational Numbers
Teaching Interests & Areas
Elementary Mathematics Education
Research Interests & Areas
Prospective teachers' understanding of rational number concepts and operations.
PhD Mathematics Education Track of the Ph.D. in Education
University of Central Florida
MS Applied Mathematics
University of Illinois
Ed.M. (Master of Education) Elementary Education
University of Illinois
BS Elementary Education
University of Illinois
Outstanding Paper
2024 PMENA conference
2024
Teachers' Choice Award Winner for Professional Development
Learning Magazine
2018
Early Career Award
Association of Mathematics Teacher Education
2017
Center for Mathematics, Science, and Technology (CeMaST) Fellow
CeMaST
2012
Outstanding University Teacher – Teaching Initiative Award
Illinois State University
2012
Associate Graduate Faculty Status
Illinois State University
2010
Graduate Faculty Status
Illinois State University
2010
Outstanding Dissertation
College of Education, University of Central Florida
2010
Service, Teaching, and Research for Early Career Mathematics Educators (STaR) Fellow
University of Missouri
2010
Grants and Contracts
The Utilizing Number to Initative Fravtion Inquiry (UNIFI) for Students with Learning Disabilities
Beth L. MacDonald, Allison Kroesch, Jessica Hunt, Jeffrey Barrett, Neet Priya Bajwa, Jennifer Tobias, Julien Corven.
Illinois State University. 2023 - 2024
Prospective Elementary Teachers’ Understanding of Whole Number Multiplication Using the Array Model
Jennifer Tobias.
Illinois State University. 2020 - 2021
Prospective Elementary Teachers’ Understanding of Fraction Concepts and Operations
Jennifer Tobias.
Illinois State University. 2013 - 2014
Mathematical Concept Development through Measurement for teachers of Grades 1 through 5
Jeffrey Barrett, Craig Cullen, Jennifer Tobias, Jae Baek.
Illinois Mathematics and Science Partnerships Program. June 2012 - October 2012
Formative Assessment Improving Teachers' Instructional Practices
Jeffrey Barrett, Craig Cullen, Jae Baek, Jennifer Tobias.
Illinois State Board of Education. 2011 - 2013
The knowledge and understandings of rational numbers that prospective elementary teachers bring to teacher education
Jennifer Tobias.
Illinois State University. 2010
Formative Assessment Improving Teachers' Instructional Practices
Jeffrey Barrett, Craig Cullen, Jae Baek, Jennifer Tobias.
Mathematics and Science Partnerships (Illinois State Board of Education). - March 2011
Illinois Mathematics and Science Partnerships Program- Mathematical Concept Development through Measurement for teachers of Grades 1 through 5 stage II
Jeffrey Barrett, Craig Cullen, Jennifer Tobias.
Department of Education. - September 2011
Illinois Mathematics and Science Partnerships Program-Mathematical Concept Development through Measurement for teachers of Grades 1 through 5
Jeffrey Barrett, Craig Cullen, Jennifer Tobias, Jae Baek.
Department of Education. - June 2011
Prospective Elementary Teachers’ Understanding of Fraction Concepts and Operations
Jennifer Tobias.
Pre-tenure faculty initiative grant. - 2012
Book, Authored
Making Sense of Mathematics for Teaching Grade 3-5
Juli K. Dixon, Edward Nolan, Thomesenia L. Adams, Jennifer Tobias, Guy Barmoha.
(2016)
Book, Chapter
Children’s Measurement Project: Sharing Trajectories with Teachers
Jeffrey Barrett, Megan Wickstrom, Jennifer Tobias, Craig Cullen, Amanda Cullen, Jae Baek.
(2019), Learning Trajectories for Teachers: Designing Effective Professional Development for Math Instruction
Prospective Teachers’ Attention to Children’s Thinking about Integers, Temperature, and Distance
Jennifer Tobias, Nicole Wessman-Enzinger, Dana Olanoff.
(2018), 213-230, Exploring the Integer Addition and Subtraction Landscape: Perspectives on Integer Thinking
When is a Mathematical Task a Good Task?
Ziv Feldman, Eva Thanheiser, Rachael Welder, Jennifer Tobias, Amy Hillen, Dana Olanoff.
(2016), 9-24, The Mathematics Education of Elementary Teachers: Issues and Strategies for Content Courses
Research-based Modifications of Elementary School Tasks for Use in Teacher Preparation
Jennifer Tobias, Dana Olanoff, Amy Hillen, Rachael Welder, Ziv Feldman, Eva Thanheiser.
(2014), Annual Perspectives in Mathematics Education: Using Research to Improve Instruction, Annual Perspectives in Mathematics Education: Using Research to Improve Instruction
The Role of Manipulatives in Motivating Preservice Teachers to Develop a Deep Understanding of Multiplying and Dividing Fractions
J K Dixon, J Andreasen, G J Roy, D Wheeldon, Jennifer Tobias.
(2011), 279-289, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics 2011 Yearbook
Conference Proceeding
Fourth report: Working group on mathematics curriculum recommendations for elementary teacher preparation
Joseph DiNapoli, Tuyin An, Neet Priya Bajwa, Daniel Clark, Julien Corven, Kim Johnson, Bona Kang, Sara Kirschner, Kristy Litster, Valerie Long, Dana Olanoff, Jennifer Tobias, Hartono Tjoe, Jennifer Ward, Corey Webel, Nicole Wessman-Enzinger.
(2025)
Mathematics curriculum recommendations for elementary teacher preparation: Research colloquium
Joseph DiNapoli, Julien Corven, Tuyin An, Neet Priya Bajwa, Daniel Clark, Kim Johnson, Bona Kang, Kristy Litster, Valerie Long, Dana Olanoff, Jennifer Tobias, Nicole Wessman-Enzinger.
(2025)
Mathematics curriculum recommendations for elementary teacher preparation: Establishing a research base
Julien Corven, Joseph DiNapoli, Kim Johnson, Valerie Long, Dana Olanoff, Jennifer Tobias.
University of Nevada, Reno, 2, 659-661, (2023)
Working group on mathematics curriculum recommendations for elementary teacher preparation: Second report
Julien Corven, Joseph DiNapoli, Kim Johnson, Valerie Long, Dana Olanoff, Jennifer Tobias, Tuyin An, Dan Clark, Richard Velasco, Kristy Litster, Bona Kang.
University of Nevada, Reno, 2, 649-658, (2023)
A Research Synthesis of Preservice Teachers' Knowledge of Multiplying and Dividing Fractions
Jennifer Tobias, Dana Olanoff, Jane-Jane Lo.
668-673, (2012)
Preservice teachers’ conceptualization of fraction multiplication
Jennifer Tobias.
1276-1283, (2009)
Developing prospective teachers’ representational fluency of whole number multiplication using array representations
Neet Priya Bajwa, Jennifer Tobias, Dana Olanoff, Rachael M. Welder.
PMENA, 10.51272/pmena.42.2020-272
Instructor's Manual
Making sense of mathematics for teaching grades 3-5: The TQE Process
Juli Dixon, Edward Nolan, Thomasenia Adams, Jennifer Tobias, Guy Barmoha.
(2016)
Journal Article
Whole Number and Fraction Reorganization of Knowledge: A Case of Dalton and Angela, Two Third Grade Children with Intensive Supports in Mathematics
Beth L. MacDonald, Allison M. Kroesch, Neet Priya Bajwa, Jeffrey Barrett, Jessica H. Hunt, Jennifer Tobias.
The Journal of Mathematical Behavior, 77, 101212, (2025), 10.1016/j.jmathb.2024.101212
Using Benchmarks to Support Fraction Addition
Jennifer Tobias, Neet Priya Bajwa.
Mathematics Teacher: Learning and Teaching PreK-12, 117 (7), 495-501, (2024)
Children’s conceptions on the structure of an array: Using quick images as a gateway to multiplicative ideas
Neet Priya Bajwa, Jennifer Tobias, Carrie Lawton.
Journal of Mathematical Behavior, 69 (Article 101049), (2023)
The dimensions of prospective elementary and middle school teachers’ problem posing for integer addition and subtraction
Nicole Wessman-Enzinger, Jennifer Tobias.
Journal of Mathematics Teacher Education, 25 (1), 1-33, (2022)
Atypical Arrays to Stimulate Multiplicative Thinking
Neet Priya Bajwa, Jennifer Tobias.
Mathematics Teacher: Learning and Teaching Pre-K-12, 113 (11), 931-935, (2020)
Exploring Relationships between 0.999… and 1
Kelsey Clarkson, Jennifer Tobias.
Mathematics Teacher: Learning and Teaching PK-12, 113 (8), 658-662, (2020)
Prospective Teachers’ Attention to Realism and Consistency with Negative Integers, Addition, and Temperature
Nicole M. Wessman-Enzinger, Jennifer Tobias, Dana Olanoff.
Investigations in Mathematics Learning, 12 (3), 226-241, (2020), 10.1080/19477503.2020.1784372
Supporting Novice Mathematics Teacher Educators with Mentoring: Perspectives of Mentees and Mentors
Siobahn Suppa, Joseph DiNapoli, Jennifer Tobias, Eva Thanheiser, Yeo Sheunghyum.
The Mathematics Enthusiast, 17 (2/3), 493-536, (2020)
Tasks for teachers: Approaches to the design of tasks for preservice and inservice learners
Rachael Welder, Dana Olanoff, Jennifer Tobias, Neet Priya Bajwa, Eva Thanheiser.
Journal of Mathematics Teacher Education in Texas, 10 (3), 6-7, (2020)
The Evolution of Classroom Structure
Jennifer Tobias.
Mathematics Teacher: Learning and Teaching PK-12, 113 (2), 170-171, (2020)
Preservice teachers' pictorial strategies for a multistep multiplicative fraction problem.
Jae Baek, Megan Wickstrom, Jennifer Tobias, Amanda Cullen, Elif Safak, Nicole Wessman-Enzinger, J Vince Kirwan.
(2017)
Preservice teachers’ algebraic reasoning and symbol use on a multistep fraction word problem
Amanda Cullen, Tobias, Elif Safak, Nicole Wessman-Enzinger, Megan Wickstrom, Jae Baek.
International Journal for Mathematics Teaching and Learning, 18 (1), 109-131, (2017)
Preservice teachers’ algebraic reasoning and symbol use on a multistep fraction word problem.
Amanda Cullen, Jennifer Tobias, Elif Safak, J Vince Kirwan, Nicole Wessman-Enzinger, Jae Baek, Megan Wickstrom.
(2017)
Preservice teachers’ pictorial strategies for a multistep multiplicative fraction problem
Jae Baek, Megan Wickstrom, Jennifer Tobias, Amanda Miller, Elif Safak, Nicole Wessman-Enzinger, J. Vince Kirwan.
Journal of Mathematical Behavior, 45 (1), 1–14, (2017), doi:10.1016/j.jmathb.2016.10.005
Reflective Analysis as a Tool for Task Re-design: The Case of Prospective Elementary Teachers Solving and Posing Fraction Comparison Problems
Eva Thanheiser, Dana Olanoff, Amy Hillen, Jennifer Tobias, Ziv Feldman, Rachael Welder.
Journal of Mathematics Teacher Education, 19 (2), 123-148, (2016)
Prospective Elementary Teachers' Conceptions of Unitizing with Whole Numbers and Fractions
Jennifer Tobias, George Roy, Farshid Safi.
International Journal for Mathematics Teaching and Learning, (2015)
Mathematical Content Knowledge for Teaching Elementary Mathematics: A Focus on Fractions
Dana Olanoff, Jane-Jane Lo, Jennifer Tobias.
The Mathematics Enthusiast, 11 (2), 267-310, (2014), 10.54870/1551-3440.1304
Mixing Strategies to Compare Fractions
Jennifer Tobias.
Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School, 19 (6), 376-381, (2014)
Multiple Representations and Connections with Sierpinski
J Vince Kirwan, Jennifer Tobias.
Mathematics Teacher, 107 (9), 666-671, (2014)
Prospective Elementary Teacher Mathematics Content Knowledge: An Introduction
Christine Browning, Eva Thanheiser, Alden J. Edson, Patrick Kimani, Dana Olanoff, Jennifer Tobias, Ian Whitacre.
The Mathematics Enthusiast, 11 (2), 203-216, (2014), 10.54870/1551-3440.1302
Sustaining Social and Sociomathematical Norms in an Undergraduate Mathematics Classroom
George J Roy, Jennifer Tobias, Farshid Safi, Juli K Dixon.
Investigations in Mathematics Learning, 7 (2), 33-64, (2014)
Building a Knowledge Base: Understanding Prospective Elementary Teachers' Mathematical Content Knowledge
Eva Thanheiser, Christine Browning, A.J. Edson, Signe Kastberg, Jane-Jane Lo, Fatma Aslan-Tutak, Cindy Edgington, Crystal Hill, Patrick M. Kimani, Briana Mills, Dana Olanoff, George Roy, Krista Strand, Jennifer Tobias.
International Journal for Mathematics Teaching and Learning, (2013)
Developing Multiplicative Thinking from Additive Reasoning
Jennifer Tobias, Janet B Andreasen.
Teaching Children Mathematics, 20 (2), 102-109, (2013)
Prospective Elementary Teachers’ Development of Fraction Language for Defining the Whole
Jennifer Tobias.
Journal of Mathematics Teacher Education, 16 (2), 85-103, (2013)
The “Whole” Story: Understanding Fraction Computation
Jennifer Tobias, Juli K Dixon.
Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School, 19 (3), 156-163, (2013)
Teachers' Noticing of Children's Understanding of Linear Measurement.
Megan H Wickstrom, Jae Baek, Jeffrey Barrett, Craig Cullen, Jennifer Tobias.
North American Chapter of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education, (2012)
The Development and Implementation of a Tutoring Clinic for Students with Special Needs
Jennifer Tobias.
Florida Association of Teacher Educators Journal, (2009)
Using Games to Promote Problem Solving Strategies in the Classroom
Jennifer Tobias.
Dimensions in Mathematics, 28 (2), 35-37, (2008)
Using Science to Promote Preservice Teacher Understanding of Problem Solving in Mathematics
Jennifer Tobias, Enrique Ortiz.
Issues in the Undergraduate Mathematics Preparation of School Teachers: The Journal, 2, (2007)
Children’s Conceptions on the Structure of an Array: Using Quick Images as a Gateway to Multiplicative Ideas
Neet Priya Bajwa, Jennifer Tobias, Carrie Lawton.
Elsevier
Children’s Integer Addition and Subtraction Conceptions
Jennifer Tobias, Nicole Wessman-Enzinger.
Reflections, 11 (3), 18-25
The Dimensions of Prospective Elementary and Middle School Teachers’ Problem Posing for Integer Addition and Subtraction
Nicole Wessman-Enzinger, Jennifer Tobias.
Journal of Mathematics Teacher Education, 25 (1), 1-33
Presentations
What recent doctorates in mathematics education speak about their work and preparation in doctoral programs
Ok-Kyeong Kim, Sherri Martinie, Jennifer Tobias, Hilda Baffour, Meredith Beggs, Camilla Carpenter.
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Research Conference, Atlanta, GA, October, 2025
An analysis of recommendations for mathematics content courses for prospective elementary teachers
Dana Olanoff, Nicole Wessman-Enzinger, Jennifer Tobias, Neet Priya Bajwa, Kim Johnson.
North American Chapter of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education Annual Conference, University Park, PA, October, 2025
Navigating policy recommendations and their alignment for mathematics content courses for elementary teacher preparation
Nicole Wessman-Enzinger, Jennifer Tobias, Kim Johnson, Dana Olanoff, Neet Priya Bajwa.
Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators, Reno, NV, February, 2025
A study of competencies and preparations needed for mathematics education doctorates
Ok-Kyeong Kim, Sherri Martinie, Jennifer Tobias.
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, hicago, IL., October, 2024
Building elementary students’ multiplicative reasoning through arrays
Neet Priya Bajwa, Jennifer Tobias.
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Chicago, IL, October, 2024
Arrays as Quick Images to Elicit Early Multiplicative Ideas
Neet Priya Bajwa, Jennifer Tobias.
International Congress on Mathematical Education, Sydney, Australia, July, 2024
Primary Students’ Use of Counting Strategies in Supporting Their Understanding of Arrays
Jennifer Tobias, Neet Priya Bajwa.
International Congress on Mathematical Education, Sydney, Australia, July, 2024
Modifying tasks to deepen prospective elementary teachers’ understanding of three levels of units with fractions
Jennifer Tobias, Alicia Erwin, Kyle Kimball.
Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators, Orlando, FL, February, 2024
Reflecting on prospective teachers’ responses to understand task effectiveness and inform task modifications
Dana Olanoff, Rachael Welder, Neet Priya Bajwa, Jennifer Tobias.
Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators, Orlando, FL, February, 2024
Reflecting on and evaluating tasks: What happens when learning goals are not met?
Dana Olanoff, Neet Priya Bajwa, Jennifer Tobias, Rachael Welder.
North American Chapter of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education, Reno, NV, October, 2023
Developing Prospective Teachers’ Representational Fluency of Whole Number Multiplication Using Array Representations. North
Neet Priya Bajwa, Jennifer Tobias, Dana Olanoff, Rachael Welder.
North American Chapter of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education Annual Conference, Online, October, 2021
Using Arrays to Develop Students’ Strategies for Whole Number Multiplication
Jennifer Tobias, Neet Priya Bajwa, Dana Olanoff.
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Online, April, 2021
Deepening Prospective Teachers’ Understandings by Focusing on Reflective Analysis Within Task Design
Jennifer Tobias, Neet Priya Bajwa, Dana Olanoff.
. Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators Annual Conference, Online, February, 2021
Tasks for Teachers: Approaches to the Design of Tasks for Preservice and Inservice Learners
Chandra Orrill, Dana Olanoff, Melissa Boston, R Brown, Jennifer Tobias, Neet Priya Bajwa, Eva Thanheiser, Rachael Welder, Amber Candela, Ziv Feldman.
Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators Annual Conference, Phoenix, AZ, February, 2020
Fostering Representational Fluency: Deepening Prospective Teachers’ Understanding of Multiplication
Neet Priya Bajwa, Rachael Welder, Ziv Feldman, Dana Olanoff, Jennifer Tobias, Eva Thanheiser.
Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators Annual Conference, Orlando, FL, February, 2019
Using the Array Model to Develop Prospective Teachers’ Understanding of Multiplication and Its Properties
Dana Olanoff, Neet Priya Bajwa, Ziv Feldman, Eva Thanheiser, Rachael Welder, Jennifer Tobias.
Annual Meeting of the North American Chapter of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education, Greenville, SC, November, 2018
Designing Tasks for Mathematics Content Courses for Prospective Teachers
Jennifer Tobias, Dana Olanoff.
Northeast Research in Undergraduate Mathematics Education, New Brunswick, NJ, October, 2018
Knowledge for Teaching Integers: Attending to Realism and Consistency in a Temperature Context
Jennifer Tobias, Nicole Wessman-Enzinger, Dana Olanoff.
North American Chapter of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education, Indianapolis, IN, October, 2017
Understanding the Progression of Fractions in K-8 Mathematics
Jennifer Tobias, Lisa Brooks.
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, San Antonio, TX, April, 2017
Investigating Prospective Teachers’ Evaluation of Children’s Temperature Stories
Dana Olanoff, Nicole Wessman-Enzinger, Jennifer Tobias.
Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators, Orlando, FL, February, 2017
Learning Trajectories in Content Courses for Prospective K-8 Teachers
Jennifer Tobias, Ziv Feldman, Rachael Welder, Dana Olanoff.
Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators, Orlando, FL, February, 2017
Examining Prospective Teachers’ Justifications of Children’s Temperature Stories
Dana Olanoff, Nicole Wessman-Enzinger, Jennifer Tobias.
Research in Undergraduate Mathematics Education, San Diego, CA, February, 2017
Greater Number of Larger Pieces: A Strategy to Promote Prospective Teachers’ Fraction Number Sense Development
Dana Olanoff, Ziv Feldman, Rachael Welder, Jennifer Tobias, Eva Thanheiser, Amy Hillen.
North American Chapter of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education, Tucson, AZ, November, 2016
Prospective Teachers’ Attention to Realism and Consistency in a Child’s Temperature Story
Nicole Wessman-Enzinger, Dana Olanoff, Jennifer Tobias.
North American Chapter of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education, Tucson, AZ, November, 2016
Exploring Fraction Equivalence through Complex Fractions
Elif Safak, Jennifer Tobias.
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, San Francisco, CA, April, 2016