David C. Webb

David C. Webb is an Associate Professor of Mathematics Education and Executive Director of the Freudenthal Institute USA at the University of Colorado Boulder. His research focuses on teacher preparation, classroom assessment practices, and professional development design, particularly in mathematics education. He previously taught middle and high school mathematics and computer applications in Southern California. Webb holds a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction (Mathematics Education) from the University of Wisconsin (2001), an MA in Education from UC Santa Barbara (1994), and a BS in Applied Mathematics from UCLA (1988).

His research explores the relationship between teachers’ instructional goals, curricular decisions, and student responses. He has contributed to curriculum development projects like Balanced Unit Assessments and the revision of Mathematics in Context materials, informed by Realistic Mathematics Education (RME) principles. His work emphasizes formative assessment tools and equitable access to mathematics, particularly for students struggling with formal procedures.

Teaching focuses include methods courses for prospective mathematics teachers and graduate seminars on the nature of mathematics education. Courses taught include EDUC 5375 (Secondary Mathematics Methods) and EDUC 6804 (Nature of Mathematics Education). He serves on editorial boards for journals like the Journal for Research in Mathematics Education and chairs AERA’s Division C (Learning and Instruction).

Publications highlight his contributions to teacher collaboration, classroom discourse in assessment, and the impact of curricula on student learning. His recent projects address active learning in post-pandemic education and sustainable calculus teaching reforms. Webb’s service includes roles in national education panels and outreach initiatives like Scalable Game Design.