Panels

• Assessment of Learning in College Algebra or Pre-Calculus Courses

  Saturday, August 8, 2:30 – 3:50 pm

  Organizers:

  Sponsor: MAA Committee on Assessment
  • Bonnie Gold , Monmouth University
  • Barbara Jur, Macomb Community College

• Panelists:

  • Andrew G. Bennett, Kansas State University
  • Marilyn Carlson, Arizona State University
  • Barbara Edwards, Oregon State University

College Algebra/Pre-Calculus is one of the most ill-defined courses AND one of the most under-assessed.  Although there have been many calls to "reform" these courses at the post-secondary level, there are only a small number of papers that report assessments of the effectiveness of these reforms.  There are lots of things that people say from their experiences teaching these courses -- but there is very little that is true assessment. This panel (sponsored by the MAA's Committee on Assessment) will give some cases of significant assessment from people working in this area.

• Working with students who aren't STEM majors, but who could be!

  Saturday, August 8, 4:00 – 5:20 pm

  Organizer:

  Sponsor: MAA/NCTM Joint Committee on Mutual Concerns
  • Dan Teague
• Intensive Individual Experiences in the Math Major

  Thursday, August 6, 4:00 – 5:20 pm

  Organizer:

  Sponsor: CUPM

  Panelists:

  CUPM is looking at ways in which mathematics departments have incorporated various sorts of intensive individual experiences for their majors as an integrated part of their curriculum. Panelists will discuss their experiences with inquiry-based learning, capstone experiences, service learning, and internships that are part of the undergraduate programs at their institutions.

  • Carol Schumacher, Kenyon College
  • Michael Pearson, MAA
  • Jason Miller, Truman State Univeristy (capstone experiences)
  • Ted Odell, The University of Texas at Austin (inquiry-based learning)
  • Patrick Headley, Gannon University (internships)
  • Steve McKelvey, St. Olaf College (service learning)
• Assessing the effectiveness of online homework

  Friday, August 7, 2:30 – 3:50 pm

  Organizers:

  • Michael Gage, University of Rochester
  • Arnold Pizer, University of Rochester
  • Vicki Roth, University of Rochester
• SUMMA Session on MAA Summer Research Programs

  Saturday, August 8, 4:00 – 5:20 pm

  Organizers:

  Sponsors: CMPM and SUMMA
  • William Hawkins, MAA and the University of the District of Columbia
  • Robert Megginson, University of Michigan
• How to Apply for Jobs

  Friday, August 7, 4:00 – 5:20 pm

  Organizer:

  Sponsor: MAA Committee on Graduate Students and the Young Mathematicians Network

  This session is aimed at PhD students and at recent PhD's. An overview of the employment process will be given with ample opportunity for audience members to participate. 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?

  • David Manderscheid, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
• Mathematics Outreach Programs for Pre-college Students

  Friday, August 7, 4:00 – 5:20 pm

  Organizers:

  Panelists:

  Arguably, the effective recruitment of students into the STEM fields should begin as early as middle school. In this session, panelists will briefly present their experiences in outreach programs for pre-college students and the audience will be given the opportunity to describe their efforts to attract pre-college students toward mathematics and other related STEM disciplines and to ask questions of the panelists. The panelists are involved in a variety of activities and will be prepared to discuss the philosophy behind their ventures and the nuts and bolts of carrying out these activities.

  • Robert Rogers, State University of New York at Fredonia
  • James A. Sellers, Pennsylvania State University
  • David Coronado, Portland State University and Oregon MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement)
  • Keary Howard, SUNY Fredonia
  • Jennifer Smith, University of Texas and formerly of SWRIMS (Southwest Regional Institute in the Mathematical Sciences)
  • James Tanton, St. Mark’s School and chair of the SIGMAA on Mathematical Circles
• Family Matters

  Thursday, August 6, 1:00 – 2:20 pm

  Organizers:

  Sponsor: Association for Women in Mathematics

  Panelists:

  One of the most challenging problems facing mathematicians, especially young mathematicians, is how to balance job and family responsibilities. Issues such as jobs for working spouses, parental leave, childcare, and stopping the tenure clock often occur at critical junctures, limit opportunities, and have a profound impact on careers. The sharp drop off in the numbers of women ascending through the ranks of assistant professor, associate professor, and full professor is attributable in part to women shouldering the larger share of family responsibilities. What can individuals and departments do to negotiate these fundamental challenges? Panelists will draw on their own experiences to present varying views on how to address these topics. Inspired in part by conversations with Project NeXT Director Christine Stevens

  • Georgia Benkart, University of Wisconsin-Madison
  • Maura Mast, University of Massachusetts-Boston
  • Maeve Lewis McCarthy, AWM & Murray State University
  • Naiomi Cameron, Lewis and Clark College
  • Jennifer Quinn, University of Washington-Tacoma
  • David Richeson, Dickinson College
  • Beth Schaubroeck, US Air Force Academy
  • Margaret Symington, Mercer College
• So You Want To Use An Online Homework System

  Thursday, August 6, 2:30 – 3:50 pm

  Organizers:

  Panelists:

  This session is designed to provide practical information to teachers who are interested in using an online homework systems for their undergraduate classes. Panelists will present information about the various online homework systems are available, what features are available in them and will provide information based on their personal experience about what benefits they can gain and what difficulties they might to encounter. After the presentations the panelists will answer questions from the audience. The focus of the presentation will be on the practicalities of selecting, setting up and using the systems, not in showcasing existing work as such.

  • Jason Aubrey, University of Missouri
  • Michael B. Scott, California State University Monterrey Bay
  • Charles Weaver, University of Phoenix and Washtenaw Comm. College
  • Jason Aubrey, University of Missouri
  • Doug Ensley, Shippensburg University
  • Michael B Scott, University of California, Monterrey Bay