Panels and other Sessions
THE ROLE OF QUANTITATIVE LITERACY CENTERS IN SUPPORTING STUDENTS AND FACULTY
Maura Mast, University of Massachusetts – Boston
Cinammon Hillyard, University of Washington Bothell
Thursday, July 31, 9:00 a.m. – 10:20 a.m.
As the call to educate students to be quantitatively literate grows, many colleges and universities are responding by establishing a quantitative literacy (QL) requirement. This is likely to be a challenging experience for everyone involved, and it is essential to provide support to both students and faculty. One approach is to create a learning center dedicated to helping students by providing tutoring, workshops, and other support. Such a center can also serve as a resource for faculty who are developing QL courses, implementing QL in their discipline, or working with assessment. With this focus on quantitative literacy across the curriculum, these centers differ from the more traditional math lab or math resource center. This panel will present a diversity of models for QL centers, based on the growing number of such centers. Panelists will discuss factors that have been important for success as well as lessons learned. Panelists will include: Caren Diefenderfer, Hollins University; Corrine Taylor, Wellesley College; Nicole Hoover, University of Washington Bothell; Judith Moran, Trinity College; and Cinnamon Hillyard.
WRITING FOR MAA PERIODICALS
Lowell Beineke, Indiana University – Purdue University Fort Wayne
Editor, The College Mathematics Journal
Ivars Peterson, MAA Director of Publications for Journals and Communications
Thursday, July 31, 1:00 p.m. – 2:20 p.m.
What does it take to get published in one of the MAA journals? In Math Horizons? In MAA FOCUS? In this panel discussion, editors will describe what they look for in manuscripts, and award-winning authors will describe the origins and journeys of their papers.
SUMMA SPECIAL SESSION ON MAA SUMMER RESEARCH PROGRAMS
William Hawkins, MAA and University of the District of Columbia
Robert Megginson, University of Michigan.
Thursday, July 31, 3:00 p.m. – 4:20 p.m.
The MAA has sponsored Summer Research Programs since 2003 with funding from NSF, NSA, and the Moody’s Foundation. Each program consists of a small research group of 4 minority undergraduates mentored by a faculty member. Forty-five sites had been funded as of Summer 2007 and approximately 12 more were funded in Summer 2008. Two site directors will discuss their programs. There will be ample time for questions and discussion. Some funding will be available for Summer 2009 and additional funds are being sought. More information can be found on the NREUP website [http://www.maa.org/nreup]. The session is sponsored by CMPM and the MAA Office of Minority Participation.
MAA SECTION OFFICERS MEETING
Thursday, July 31, 2:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Moderated by Nancy L. Hagelgans, Ursinus College, chair of the MAA Committee on Sections.
GRAND UNVEILING AND RECEPTION
Amy Shell-Gellasch, Pacific Lutheran University
Thursday, July 31, 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Please Join the History of Math SIGMAA and the MAA at the presentation of two new MAA posters:
The Women of Mathematics poster and the Ethnomathematics poster
Funding for the Modern Women poster is from the MAA and Sun Micro Systems and funding for the Ethnomathematics poster is from the MAA and HOM SIGMAA.
MAA PRIZE SESSION
Friday, August 1, 11:30 a.m. – Noon
Moderated by Martha J. Siegel, Towson University, MAA Secretary.
TEACHERS FOR A NEW ERA’S IMPACT ON MATHEMATICS EDUCATION
Magnhild Lien, California State University Northridge
Friday, August 1, 2:15 p.m. – 3:35 p.m.
In 2002 and 2003, eleven colleges and universities in the United States were designated “Teachers for a New Era Institutions” by the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The three TNE principles are 1) Decisions driven by evidence, 2) Engagements with the Arts and Sciences and 3) Teaching as an academically taught clinical practice profession. The panelists will discuss the impact of TNE on math education at their institutions; mathematical knowledge for teaching; changes that have been made in mathematics courses designed for prospective K-12 teachers; collaborations with (math) education faculty and research projects that are underway.
USING ON-LINE HOMEWORK IN MATHEMATICS CLASSES
Michael E. Gage, Arnold K. Pizer, and Vicki Roth, University of Rochester
Friday August 1, 2:15 p.m. – 4:35 p.m.
While on-line homework systems have been available for more than ten years, we have seen a proliferation over the last five years of their use in mathematics courses at colleges and universities. The range of choices in systems is now greater and their usefulness has improved in terms of the mathematics content of the questions they can pose and check. As their user interfaces have matured, these systems are now more usable as well. This panel discussion will present some of the diverse ways that on-line mathematics homework is currently being used in college and university mathematics classes with our panelists providing their own perspectives and experiences. We will focus on the effects of on-line homework and related tools on classroom dynamics even at traditional residential campuses and discuss in what ways (if any) they change what and how we teach. The presenters have used a wide variety of on-line tools, but, rather than a comparison of feature sets, the main focus will be on how to use any one of them in effective ways. After short presentations by the panelists, there will be an opportunity for the panelists to comment on each others' presentations and for questions and comments from the audience. Panelists will include: Karen Clark, The College of New Jersey; Andrew Bennett, Kansas State University; Robin Cruz, Albertson College of Idaho; and Maria Andersen, Muskegon Community College. The panel will be moderated by Vicki Roth.
HOW TO APPLY FOR JOBS
David Manderscheid, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Friday, August 1, 3:15 p.m. – 4:35 p.m.
This session is aimed at Ph.D. students and at recent Ph.D.s. An overview of the employment process will be given with ample opportunity for participants to ask questions. Questions that will be addressed include: How do you find which jobs are available? How do you choose which jobs you want to apply for? What are academic and other employers looking for in the materials that you send? What should you be doing now? How do schools conduct interviews? How can you best prepare for these interviews? How do employers choose to whom they will make offers? How do you negotiate once you have an offer? Panelists will include: Sharon Clarke, Pepperdine University; James Freeman, Cornell College; Sarah Ann Stewart, Belmont University, and David Manderscheid. The session is co-sponsored by the MAA Committee on Graduate Students and the Young Mathematicians Network.
MAA ALDER AWARDS SESSION
Friday, August 1, 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Presentations will be given by the 2008 Alder Award recipients. The session will be moderated by Joseph Gallian, University of Minnesota at Duluth, MAA President.
MOVIE
HARD PROBLEMS
Friday, 4:00 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.
George Csicsery, Zala Films. An 85 minute documentary about the USA team's participation in the 2006 International Mathematical Olympiad in Slovenia. A question and answer session with Csicsery will follow the film. Other films by Csicsery are N is a Number: A Portrait of Paul Erdos, porridge pulleys and Pi, Invitation to Discover, Julia Robinson and Hilbert's Tenth Problem.
WORKSHOP ON ESSENTIAL REASONING ABILITIES AND CONCEPTUAL FOUNDATINS FOR CALCULUS
Part 1: Friday, August 1, 9:00 a.m. – 10:20 a.m.
Part 2: Saturday, August 2, 9:00 a.m. – 10:20 a.m.
Marilyn P. Carlson, Arizona State University
This proposed workshop will engage participants in tasks that promote reflection about the mathematical development that is needed to prepare students for success in calculus. The research literature on knowing and learning precaluclus and beginning calculus will be reviewed and discussed. Participants will view videos of students as they explain their thinking while responding to tasks designed to reveal their understandings and misconception relative to foundational ideas of calculus (e.g., function, rate of change). Curricular modules that have been designed to promote the development of students’ understanding and reasoning abilities will be shared. The Precalculus Concept Assessment Instrument, a research based tool that can be used to assess students’ readiness for calculus will be shared.
MATH MATTERS: NUMERATE APPROACHES TO EVERYDAY ISSUES
Maura Mast, University of Massachusetts – Boston
Rob Root of Lafayette College
Andy Miller of Belmont University
Saturday, August 2, 9:00 a.m. – 10:20 a.m.
How can mathematics help the average citizen negotiate the world? Issues such as climate change, globalization, the credit and mortgage crisis, and electoral processes and politics have a large impact on our society. Mathematics and statistics are critical tools for appreciating the complexity and impact of these phenomena that affect individual lives and society at large. The panelists in this session, Andy Miller of Belmont University, Donald Saari of University of California Irvine, Johnathan Hodge, Grand Valley State University, and Bernard Madison, University of Arkansas, will present approaches to addressing these topics and equipping citizens with the knowledge and habits of mind necessary for understanding these issues and for making personal choices that incorporate this new understanding.
MAA BUSINESS MEETING
Saturday, August 2, 11:30 a.m. - Noon
Moderated by Martha J. Siegel, Towson University, MAA Secretary.
FLATLAND: THE MOVIE
Saturday, August 2, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Thomas Banchoff, Brown University
Flatland: The Movie is a half-hour animated film produced in 2007. It was inspired by Edwin A. Abbott's classic novel, Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions. Set in a world of only two dimensions inhabited by sentient geometrical shapes, the story follows Arthur Square and his ever-curious granddaughter Hex. When a mysterious visitor arrives from Spaceland, Arthur and Hex must come to terms with the truth of the third dimension, risking dire consequences from the evil Circles that have ruled Flatland for a thousand years. A discussion will follow concerning its use in classroom teaching. A discussion on the use of the film and accompanying materials for teaching at different levels will follow concerning its use in classroom teaching.
CREATING A POST-CALCULUS PRECALCULUS COURSE FOR ADVANCED HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
Dan Teague, NC School of Science and Mathematics
Dan Lotesto, Milwaukee Public Schools
Saturday, August 2, 1:00 p.m. – 2:20 p.m.
Post-Calculus Precalculus: What are the precalculus topics that it would be helpful to revisit and deepen after (or concurrently with) a high school calculus class and before students get to college? In the rush to calculus, what topics have been forgotten? How can this be done in a way that engages student interest and excites them about mathematics? Since students often select “brand name” courses to improve their college admissions chances, should the MAA create such a course to compete for the attention of post-calculus high school student with the “AP name” on other non-mathematical courses. Panelist will include Doug Kuhlman, Philips Andover; and Paul Zorn, Saint Olaf College. The session is sponsored by SIGMAA TASHM.
FIRST-YEAR COURSES DESIGNED TO ATTRACT STUDENTS TO THE SERIOUS STUDY OF MATHEMATICS
Michael Starbird, University of Texas
James Sellers, Pennsylvania State University
Saturday, August 2, 1:00 p.m. - 2:20 p.m.
One of the keys to attracting students to either major or minor in mathematics is to offer them an interesting and engaging course in their first year at college, a course that intrigues, excites, and challenges them, and that offers more of the same if they will continue to pursue the study of mathematics. This session will give faculty from a wide variety of institutions an opportunity to explain what they are doing to "grab" students in this critical first year.
THE ROLE OF OPEN SOURCE MATH PROJECTS IN THE MATHEMATICS COMMUNITY
Charles Weaver, University of Phoenix
Jason Aubrey, University of Missouri
Michael Scott, California State University Monterey Bay
Saturday, August 2, 3:00 p.m. – 4:20 p.m.
Open source projects have assumed an important place in our society. Several academic mathematics projects including MathDL, WeBWorK, SAGE and the MathForum follow open-source or open-source-like models. Several open source non-academic projects such as PlanetMath and Wikipedia have made mathematical information widely available to the general public. What open source projects exist and what are they doing? What other opportunities are there for open source projects in the mathematics community? How is open source work recognized in the university setting? How can it affect promotion and tenure decisions? How can open source projects assure the reliability and stability of the materials they produce? How do the review processes used in open source projects stack up against the traditional peer review process? What can we learn from previous interactions between working mathematicians and non-academics? What incentive and/or business models would encourage further productive relations between these mathematical constituencies? Panelists will include Aaron Krowne, PlanetMath; Michael Gage, University of Rochester and WeBWorK; Gene Klotz, Swarthmore College and Math Forum; Frank Wattenberg, US Military Academy and MathDL; Douglas Ensley, Shippensburg University and MathDL (moderator). The session is sponsored by Web SIGMAA.
