James Barta, Ph.D.

James Barta

Assistant Professor of Early
Childhood Education
Graduate and Undergraduate Faculty
Appointed 1995
Email: jim.barta@usu.edu
Phone (435) 797-0370
Office: Jones Education Building, Room 370

Academic Degrees

  • Ph.D., Curriculum and Instruction/Early Childhood Education
  • University of Oregon , Eugene , Oregon August, 1991
  • M.A., Learning Disabilities/Emotional Behavior Disorders
  • University of Northern Colorado Greeley August, 1980
  • B.S., Industrial Science Education
  • Colorado State University , Fort Collins , Colorado May, 1977

Professional Experience:

Utah State University, Department of Elementary Education: Logan, Utah
  • Associate professor in Elementary/Early Childhood Education
  • September 1995 to present

McGill University – Office of First Nation and Inuit Education

Concordia University – Native Access to Engineering Programme: Montreal, Canada

  • Sponsored Sabbatical
  • July 2002 – July 2003
Georgia Southern University, Department of Early Childhood Education & Reading: Statesboro, Georgia
  • Assistant Professor of Elementary/Early Childhood Education
  • September 1991 to August 1995

Awards and Honors

  • Received the 1999 USU President's Diversity Award for Faculty
  • Selected the 1997-1998 USU Elementary Education Department "Teacher of the Year"

Research Areas/Interests

  • Native American Education
  • Elementary Mathematics
  • Curriculum Development - Early Childhood/Elementary
  • Culturally-Responsive Instruction
  • Multicultural/Anti-bias education

Publications/Articles

  • Barta, J. & L'Ai, L. (in press). Galleons, magic potions, and quiddich: The mathematics of Harry Potter. Teaching Children Mathematics
  • Barta, J., Jette', C., & Wiseman, D. (2003). Dancing Numbers: Cultural, Cognitive, and Technical Instructional Perspectives on the Development of Native American Mathematical and Scientific Pedagogy. Educational Technology Research and Development , 51 (2), 87-97
  • Barta, J., Abeyta, A., Gould, D., Galindo, E., Matt, G., Seaman, D., & Voggesser, G. (2001). The mathematical ecology of the Shoshoni: Implications for elementary mathematics education. Journal of American Indian Education , 40 (2), 1-27
  • Dever, M., Barta, J. & Falconer, R. (1999). Project boxes: A curriculum development innovation for achieving developmentally appropriate practice in the primary grades. National Association of Laboratory Schools Journal, 23(1), 16-20
  • Barta, J. (1999) Mathematics and Beadwork. Winds of Change: American Indian Science and Engineering Society, 14(2), 36-41
  • Barta, J. (1999). A descriptive study of the mathematics of the traditional Shoshoni. International Study Group on Ethnomathematics, 14(2), 2-6
  • Barta, J. & D. Schaelling (1998). The games we play: Connecting math and culture in the classroom. Teaching Children Mathematics,4(7), 388 393
  • Dever, M. & Barta, J. (1997). Giving thanks: Curricular opportunities for expanding children's awareness of culture. Social Studies and the Young Learner, 10(2), 6-9
  • Barta, J. & R. Silverman (1997, May). Mathematics and Beadwork: Notes from a conversation with a Sioux Artist. International Study Group on Ethnomathematics. 4-5

Books and Commercial Materials

  • Barta, J. & Barkley, C. (in press). Honoring Ute Ways

Chapters in Books

  • Barta J. & Gallagher-Geurtsen , T. (2003 - in review). Dancing Colors. In R. Sgarlotti (Ed.), Creating Sacred Places for Students in Mathematics, Grades Pre-K - 12 . Poulson, MT. National Indian School Boards Association
  • Barta J. (2002). Walking in beauty: Three Native American teachers rediscover mathematics. NCTM Special Publication Vol. 5, Changing Faces of Mathematics: Indigenous People of North America. , p. 157-166. Reston , VA , National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
  • Barta J. (2002). The mathematical ecology of the Florida Seminole and its classroom implications . NCTM Special Publication Vol. 5, Changing Faces of Mathematics: Indigenous People of North America. , p. 167-174. Reston , VA , National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
  • Barta, J. (1996). Integrating anti-bias curriculum. In D. Byrnes & G. Kiger (Eds.), Common Bonds: Anti-Bias Teaching in a Diverse Society . Wheaton , MD : Association of Childhood Education International

Presentations

  • "Until the Numbers Dance: Indigenous Cultures, Educational Perspectives, Science and Mathematics" Co-presented with Corinne Jette and Dawn Wiseman at the Canadian Math Forum Conference, Montreal , Quebec , Canada on May 17, 2003
  • "Dancing Numbers: Developing Indigenous Mathematical Pedagogy." Co-presented with Ed Galindo at the USU Diversity Conference in Logan , Utah on March 17, 2003
  • "Culturally Inclusive Science Curriculum: Native Access to Engineering." Co-presented with Jerilyn Horn at the Alberta Teachers Science Conference in Banff , Alberta , Canada on November 17, 2002
  • First Nations' Students and Mathematics.” Invited scholar presentation at Concordia University in Montreal , Canada , October 25, 2002
  • "Cultural Considerations in Teaching and Learning: First Nations Students and Mathematics." Invited faculty presentation at McGill University in Montreal , Canada , October 10, 2002
  • "Teachers as Dreamcatchers: Mathematics and Native American Students.” Co-presented with Corinne Jette, and Richard Sgarlotti at the 29th Annual National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Conference in Las Vegas , NE , April 23, 2002
  • "Teaching Hispanic and Native American Students in Mathematics.” Presented as a panel presentation at the 29th Annual National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Conference in Las Vegas , NE , April 22, 2002
  • "Cultural Influences in the Teaching and Learning of Mathematics with Native American Students." Co-presented with Cathy Barkley at the 28th Annual Meeting of the Research Council on Mathematics Learning in Las Vegas , NE., March 9, 2001
  • "The Multicultural Mathematics Classroom." Co- presented with Linda L'Ai at the Annual Meeting of The National Association of Laboratory Schools in San Juan , Puerto Rico , February 11, 2002
  • "Teaching Children Mathematics: Tips from our Journal." Co-presented with Janie Schielack and Angela Andrews at the Annual Meeting of The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics in Orlando , FL., April 5, 2001
  • "Ethnomathematical Research and Native American Populations" Co presented Drs. Jerry Lipka and Sharon Nelson-Barber at the Annual American Education Research Association Meeting in New Orleans, LA, April 27, 2000
  • "Dancing to the Drum: Mathematics Education and Native Americans". Co presented with Drs. Jerry Lipka, Claudette Bradley - Kawagley, Gerald Fast at the Annual Meeting of The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics in Chicago , Il., April 13, 2000 .
  • Changing Faces of Mathematics: Perspectives on Indigenous Peoples of North American". Co - presented with Drs. Judith Hankes, Gerald fast, Jerry Lipka, Sharon Nelson-Barber, Cathy Barley, Jeff Young, Angie Naquayouma at the Annual Meeting of The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics in Chicago , Il., April 12, 2000
  • "Mandating Kindergarten Readiness Testing: The Experiences of Early Childhood Educators in Utah " at the National Association for the Education of Young Children Annual Conference, Toronto , Ontario , Canada . November 18 - 20, 1998

Grantsmanship

  • National Science Foundation Math/Science Partnership Proposal, July 1, 2004 - June 30, 2009 - ($10,000,000 – in review). Research titled "Dreamcatching:Engineering"
  • Math, and Science Partnerships with Native Americans.” Co-PIs – Drs. Chris Hailey, Rebecca Monhardt, Kurt Becker, and Margaret Lubke.
  • Utah State University Mineral Lease Grant, July 1, 2001 - June 30, 2002 - ($15,000). Co- PI, Dr. Sue Haupt. Research titled "Physical Science and Mathematics Education at Nature Centers"
  • Utah State University Mineral Lease Grant, July 1, 2000 - June 30, 2001 - ($31,747). Research titled "Improving Mathematical Instructional Effectiveness in the Elementary Grades: Connecting Ute Culture, Video Instruction, and Curriculum Guides"
  • Utah State University New Faculty Research Grant, Year 3, July 1, 1998 - June 30, 2000 - ($16,800). Research titled "Mathematical Ecology of Three Native American tribes: The Arapaho, Shoshoni, and the Ute
  • Utah Mineral Lease Grant - ($15,000) July 1, 98 - June 30, 99 . Navajo Science and Project Boxes Co-directed with Drs. Becky Monhardt and Don Daugs
  • Utah Mineral Lease Grant - ($17,900) July 1, 97 - June 30, 98 . Development of a Curriculum and Instruction Model for Schools Serving Ute Students: A Two Year Project. Co-directed with Dr. Martin Tadlock

Upcoming Deadlines

  • October 1
    Apply to the Teacher Education Program

  • October 1
    Apply for Student Teaching