 |
 Mathematics Instruction Colloquium
Objective
The UA Mathematics Instruction Colloquium is a forum for presentations and discussions of topics related to the teaching of mathematics at all levels, from elementary/secondary to the UA's entry-level sequence and beyond. The colloquium is an open forum; the public is invited to attend. Participants and attendees have included faculty and students from the UA's mathematics, applied mathematics, and mathematics education programs, as well as teachers and administrators from the Tucson Unified School District.
In the 2008-2009 academic year, the colloquium is being organized by Ji Li and Nathan Carlson.
Location and Time
The colloquium is typically held on Tuesdays from 4:15 - 5:15 p.m. in Mathematics 501. Exceptions will be noted below.
Click here to see the upcoming talk. You may click the title of any talk below to view its full abstract.
Schedule of Colloquia - Fall 2008
- Tuesday, August 26, 2008
- Organizational Meeting: All are invited
- Tuesday, September 2, 2008
- (no schedule)
- Tuesday, September 9, 2008 --- Gould Simpson 849
- Dr. Carol Robinson, Assistant Director (Teaching and Learning) Mathematics Education Centre, Loughborough University, United Kingdom
Mathmatics Teaching in UK Universities
In recent years concerns have been expressed about the level of student engagement in the learning of mathematics at university. Widening participation and the increasing numbers of students attending universities have meant that there is a wide variation in the level of prior knowledge of students. Many students find they have compulsory mathematics modules to study as part of their undergraduate course and do not appreciate the importance of mathematics for their course. Often they are taught in large classes and poor attendance at lectures and tutorials is not uncommon. Universities are finding that they are having to look at ways of addressing the issues of how to motivate and assist such students in their learning of mathematics.
This presentation first describes the situation of mathematics teaching in UK universities, with particular reference to the teaching of mathematics to non-specialist mathematicians, such as engineering students and economics and business students.
It then describes the support network which has been put in place to assist students with mathematics. In over 60% of UK universities, this takes the form of a Mathematics Learning Support Centre. Loughborough and Coventry Universities were recently awarded Centre for Excellence status in Mathematics Support. This presentation will describe some of the support they offer.
Finally the presentation will describe ways of motivating the students in their study of mathematics. These include the use of new technologies in teaching and the use of discipline-specific problems. A number of new technologies, including Electronic Voting Systems and Tablet PCs are being used and the experience and findings of staff and students involved will be reported.
The presentation concludes with a summary of the current situation of teaching mathematics in UK universities.
- Tuesday, September 16, 2008
- Dr. Nathan Carlson, Department of Mathematics, University of Arizona
The Tucson Teachers' Circle at One Year
A teachers' circle is a program that provides middle or high school teachers with an opportunity to engage in mathematics as an intellectual endeavor, where discussion of teaching techniques plays a prominent role. It also provides a support network for the participants. In the summer of 2007 a group from the UA math department, including Ginny Bohme, David Savitt, and myself, attended a workshop on starting a teachers' circle. The Tucson Teachers' Circle was founded soon after, with focus on discovery, exploration, and hands-on activities. After one year, we have nurtured a vibrant circle that has been well-received by the teachers. I will talk about the various activities we have done, as well as some of the problems we've had the teachers' explore.
- Tuesday, September 23, 2008 --- Mathematics East 141
- Robert Schmidt, Department of Mathematics, University of Arizona
Utilizing the SMART Board for Mathematics Education
Mike Schmidt, one of the ATI School Specialists (on a one-year leave from University High School), will give an introduction to the use of the SMART board and share ideas on the specific uses of the board in colligate and secondary math classrooms.
SMART Technology's interactive whiteboards can be a valuable tool for any mathematics educator. Proper utilization of this technology can save the instructor valuable class time and provide new avenues for displaying complex ideas. This discussion will include both a basic overview of the SMART Board's capabilities and specific utilizations of the SMART Board for the math classroom.
- Tuesday, September 30, 2008 --- Gould Simpson 849
- Dr. Linda Simonsen, Department of Mathematics, University of Arizona
Distance Learning: Budget Panacea or Authentic Learning?
Distance learning is often seen as a solution path for many problems facing academia. In light of current budget issues, we are all being challenged to develop creative solutions to increase our efficiency as faculty members while upholding academic quality. But, creative distance learning solutions will fail if they are not carefully connected to need, audience and mode of delivery. These creative decisions require a deeper understanding of effective distance learning. I will discuss in detail how effective distance learning requires establishing a clearly defined need, reflecting on how you reach this audience now, and then developing a well-organized mode of delivery that fits the need and the audience.
- Tuesday, October 7, 2008
- Bruce MacMillan, Department of Mathematics, University of Arizona
Modeling Projectile Motion
The flight of a projectile can be modeled very nicely by using parametric equations and a graphing calculator. After briefly discussing the mathematics involved to model the flight of a projectile, we will collect some real world data, do the mathematics to predict the
flight of a "ball in motion", and use a "projectile launcher", to confirm that the mathematics works! This is a "hands on" workshop!
- Tuesday, October 14, 2008 --- Gould Simpson 849
- Dr. William McCallum, Department of Mathematics, University of Arizona
What should the new required fourth year of high school math look like?
Dr. Bill McCallum has been writing national and state benchmarks for high school mathematics and will host a session for high school teachers and district leaders to discuss what the fourth year of math might look like. Please come with concerns, suggestions, possible courses and an open mind.
Attend the Mathematics Instructional Colloquium on Tuesday, October 14, to ponder this question in an open forum lead by Dr. Bill McCallum of the Institute of Mathematics & Education at the University of Arizona. We want to hear teachers' voices and learn about their ideas and concern!
- Tuesday, October 21, 2008 --- Math 101
- Kimberly Gray, Department of Mathematics, University of Arizona
Geogebra
Geogebra is a dynamic mathematics software that integrates geometry and algebra in an interactive way. This program was initially developed by Markus Hohenwarter in 2001, and is available to download for free on the website: www.geogebra.org. We will start by exploring some of the basic tools. Then, I will demonstrate how I have used the program to create activities to help students explore transformations of functions and to explore the properties of quadrilaterals. Information will also be provided about other activities and resources that are available currently on the internet.
- Tuesday, October 28, 2008 --- Gould Simpson 849
- Dr. Walter Piegorsch, Department of Mathematics, University of Arizona
Understanding the Statistics Behind Voting Polls
With the Presidential Election right around the corner, some may ask what it means to hear that "43% of likely voters support Sen. John McCain for president, with a margin of error of 3%." We'll tell you, and give some basic understanding of the modern methods that represent statements such as this.
- Tuesday, November 4, 2008 --- Gould Simpson 849
- Dr. Caroline Wright, Department of Mathematics, University of Arizona
Math Education Standards in Georgia
I will talk about the math standards that are in place in the state of Georgia, and how they compare to the national standards, and also to Arizona's standards. Included in this, I will talk about some of the classes that University of Georgia has for their elementary and middle school education majors.
- Tuesday, November 18, 2008 --- Gould Simpson 849
- Dr. Elizabeth Arnot-Hopffer, Assistant Director of Tucson GEAR UP
Victor Mercado, M.Ed., Sunnyside HS College Coach
Crystal Bartels, UA PhD student and Mathematics Specialist for Tucson GEAR UP
Culturally Relevant Pedagogy: Teaching Mathematics Through Mariachi Music
The purpose of the Tucson GEAR UP project is to increase the number of low income, first-generation, minority students who are ready to enter and succeed in college. The project serves the graduating class of 2012 in five high schools within the Tucson and Sunnyside Unified School Districts.
As discussed by Gloria Ladson-Billings (1994), the merging of mathematics and music is informed by the theory of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy. In the GEAR UP math through mariachi program, music theory is integrated within mathematics lessons and students are provided the opportunity to learn a mariachi instrument. The curriculum is aligned with the Arizona state standards for Math 7, Math 8, and Algebra and most importantly, serves as a culturally relevant bridge between the home knowledge that Latina/o students bring to the classroom and the state mathematics standards. Mariachi concerts serve as a vehicle to increase family engagement and college knowledge.
This presentation will discuss the curriculum, the impact that the math through mariachi program has had on student achievement, implications for future programs, and ways in which the curriculum design promotes student interest in mathematics.
- Tuesday, November 25, 2008 --- Gould Simpson 849
- Dr. William Y Vélez (WYZ), Department of Mathematics, University of Arizona
Increasing the number of mathematics majors
In the late 1980's I began my efforts to increase the success rate of minorities in first semester calculus. The interventions that I devised were very time consuming and as the number of minority students increased, I could not manage that kind of effort. I developed my Calculus Minority Advising Program in an effort to meet with scores of minority students each semester. This program consists of a twenty-minute meeting with each student at the beginning of each semester. These meetings with students eventually transformed my own attitude about the importance of mathematics in their undergraduate curriculum.
I took over the position of Associate Head for Undergraduate Affairs in the department five years ago. I set a very modest goal for myself: to double the number of mathematics majors. With more than 500 mathematics majors I have reached that goal. I think the next doubling is going to be much harder to achieve. My work with minority students provided me with the tools to accept this new challenge of working with all students.
This talk will describe my own efforts to encourage ALL of our students that a mathematics major, or adding mathematics as a second major, is a great career choice.
- Tuesday, December 2, 2008 --- Gould Simpson 849
- Dr. Bruce Bayly, Department of Mathematics, University of Arizona
The Mathematics Factory: Vision for a Mobile Outreach Program
The Physics Factory (www.physicsfactory.org) is a very successful program that introduces children to the idea that science is exciting and worth investing years of study in. The success of The Physics Factory and other mobile programs such as Colorado State's Little Shop of Physics (http://littleshop.physics.colostate.edu/) has suggested the creation of a mobile Math outreach program.
But Math and Science are very different disciplines. How would a mobile Math outreach program look? How would it work? What can we learn from other programs, and what will we have to invent ourselves? Dr Bruce Bayly will describe how The Physics Factory and Little Shop of Physics work and share some stories from the Summer 2008 International Tour. He will present his vision for The Mathematics Factory and will seek suggestions and comments from the audience.
- Tuesday, December 9, 2008 --- Gould Simpson 849
- Tina Deember and Dr. Stephen Gagola, Department of Mathematics, University of Arizona
- How students prepare for exams
Affiliations
Last updated: December 5, 2008
comments or suggestions to: Ji Li
|