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SIGMAA Activities

BIO SIGMAA: The SIGMAA on Mathematical and Computational Biology

Contributed Paper Session on Undergraduate Research Activities in Mathematical and Computational Biology

Friday afternoon, August 7

This session is dedicated to aspects of undergraduate research in mathematical and computational biology. First and foremost, this session would like to highlight research results of projects that either were conducted by undergraduates or were collaborations between undergraduates and their faculty mentors. Of particular interest are those collaborations that involve students and faculty from both mathematics and biology. Secondly, as many institutions have started undergraduate research programs in this area, frequently with the help of initial external funding, the session is interested in the process and logistics of starting a program and maintaining a program even after the initial funding expires. Important issues include faculty development and interdisciplinary collaboration, student preparation and selection, the structure of research programs, the acquisition of resources to support the program, and the subsequent achievements of students who participate in undergraduate research in mathematical and computational biology.

Timothy D. Comar, Benedictine University

SIGMAA EM: The SIGMAA on Environmental Mathematics

Workshop on USE Math: Undergraduate Sustainability Experiences in the Mathematics Classroom

Thursday, August 6, 1:00 PM – 2:20 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Balcony A

Undergraduate Sustainability Experiences in Mathematics (USE Math) projects are sustainability-focused, technology-enabled, single class-period projects, each offering students authentic experiences within the context of sustainability in applying various topics encountered in mathematics courses. For the past two years, with NSF and MAA PREP support, numerous USE Math projects have been developed and are now being used in classrooms at institutions across the country. This hands-on workshop will give participants the opportunity to work through a complete USE Math activity that has been successfully integrated into a general education mathematics course. Upon completion of the activity, workshop participants will discuss strategies for incorporating additional USE Math projects into their classroom. Prior to MathFest, classroom-ready materials will be made available on the SIGMAA-EM website, and the Mathematics/QR Disciplinary page on the Sustainability Improves Student Learning (SISL) website (http://serc.carleton.edu/sisl/sustain_in_math.html).

Ben Galluzzo, Shippensburg University
Corrine Taylor, Wellesley College

Poster Session on Classroom Activities and Projects within the Context of Environmental Sustainability

Thursday, August 6, 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM

HOM SIGMAA: the SIGMAA on the History of Mathematics

Contributed Paper Session on the History and Philosophy of Mathematics

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, mornings and afternoons

This session welcomes contributions from all areas related to history and philosophy of mathematics. This includes reports on research, survey talks, and issues related to the use of history and philosophy of mathematics in the classroom. The session will also include special sessions on mathematical communities and on the philosophy of mathematics. There will also be a group of talks in honor of Karen Parshall (one of the MAA Centennial lecturers) and also in memory of Jackie Stedall (a well known historian of mathematics who passed away in the early fall).

SIGMAA MCST: The SIGMAA on Math Circles for Students and Teachers

Contributed Paper Session on Math Circle Problems in Honor of the MAA’s 100th Anniversary

Friday afternoon, August 7

A mathematics circle is an enrichment activity for K-12 students or their teachers, which brings them into direct contact with mathematics professionals, fostering a passion and excitement for deep mathematics in the participants. It is usually a weekly or monthly activity, but it can also be an intensive summer experience. Circles provide rich open-ended problems that enable students or their teachers to strengthen their problem-solving skills and deepen their appreciation for and excitement about mathematics. In honor of the MAA’s 100th anniversary, we especially encourage talks that address a problem or topic involving the number 100 that was successful at your math circle.

Katherine Morrison, University of Northern Colorado
Philip Yasskin, Texas A&M University
Paul Zeitz, University of San Francisco

Math Circle Demonstration

Saturday, August 8, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Maryland A

A math circle is an enrichment experience that brings mathematics professionals in direct contact with pre-college students and/or their teachers. Circles foster passion and excitement for deep mathematics. This demonstration session offers the opportunity for conference attendees to observe and then discuss a math circle experience designed for local students. While students are engaged in a mathematical investigation, mathematicians will have a discussion focused on appreciating and better understanding the organic and creative process of learning that circles offer, and on the logistics and dynamics of running an effective circle.

Katherine Morrison, University of Northern Colorado
Japheth Wood, New York Math Circle

Math Wrangle

Saturday, August 8, 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Maryland A

Math Wrangle will pit teams of students against each other, the clock, and a slate of great math problems. The format of a Math Wrangle is designed to engage students in mathematical problem solving, promote effective teamwork, provide a venue for oral presentations, and develop critical listening skills. A Math Wrangle incorporates elements of team sports and debate, with a dose of strategy tossed in for good measure. The intention of the Math Wrangle demonstration at the Math Fest is to show how teachers, schools, circles, and clubs can get students started in this exciting combination of mathematical problem solving with careful argumentation via public speaking, strategy and rebuttal.

Mark Saul, MAA American Mathematics Competitions
Ed Keppelmann, University of Nevada

POM SIGMAA: The SIGMAA on the Philosophy of Mathematics

POM SIGMAA Guest Lecture 

What Are Mathematical Objects, and Who Cares?

Thursday, August 6, 5:00 PM - 5:50 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 4

John Burgess, Princeton University

The questions philosophers have been asking about mathematics since the end of the period of foundational controversies in the first half of the last century - questions about the nature of mathematical objects and whether there even are such things - are ones that may seem strange to the working mathematician. I will try to explain why these questions have rightly or wrongly seemed natural to philosophers, and indicate something about the directions in which answers are now being sought.

Contributed Paper Session on the History and Philosophy of Mathematics

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, mornings and afternoons

SIGMAA QL: The SIGMAA on Quantitative Literacy

Panel Session on Quantitative Literacy and Democracy 

Saturday, August 8, 1:00 PM - 2:20 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Delaware A

For decades, mathematics educators such as Lynn Steen (ed., Mathematics and Democracy) and Robert Moses (The Algebra Project) have argued that quantitative literacy is necessary for a citizen’s full participation in contemporary society. As we meet in our nation’s capital, we invite panelists to reflect on how quantitative literacy supports and contributes to democracy. Questions may include: How does quantitative literacy enable participation in high quality debate over public issues? How can quantitative literacy support social advocacy? How do quantitative arguments affect legal proceedings? What should a citizen understand about the mathematics of voting, apportionment, gerrymandering, and other political issues?

Gary Franchy, Southwestern Michigan College
Gizem Karaali, Pomona College
Andrew J Miller, Belmont University
Aaron Montgomery, Central Washington University
Victor Piercey, Ferris State University

Panelists:
Lily Khadjavi, Loyola Marymount University
Maura Mast, Fordham University
Rob Root, Lafayette College

Web SIGMAA: The SIGMAA on Mathematics Instruction Using the WEB

Web SIGMAA Guest Lecture

MYMathApps: Lessons Learned and To-Be Learned

Friday, August 7, 5:00 PM - 5:50 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 5

Philip Yasskin, Texas A&M University
Douglas Meade, University of South Carolina

The Meade-Yasskin partnership grew out of their individual attempts in the mid-1990’s to write CGI-scripts leveraging Maple’s functionality to help students learn calculus via the web. They began working together in 2005 when they discovered a mutual interest in making CAS-based educational materials available to students via the new Maplet GUI. The main product of this partnership is Maplets for Calculus, an award-winning and NSF-funded collection of more than 200 drill-and-practice applets on topics from precalculus through single-variable and multivariable calculus to differential equations and even some complex analysis.

Rather than showing off the features of these applets, we will discuss the growing pains and learning curves we have experienced as this project has grown from 37 applets in 2005 to more than 200 today. Examples include the selection of the underlying software (proprietary vs. public domain, ...), modularity, version tracking, reuse of common code, and adapting to new styles and features (or absence of features) as technology has evolved. We also want to spend some time discussing issues such as recruitment and training of student programmers, negotiating with potential partners, decisions to make MYMathApps materials free or commercial, and intellectual property rights.

We also hope to discuss student attitudes about educational technology -- what they embrace and what they dislike. Our admittedly limited surveys indicate student attitudes degrade during the calculus sequence but the decline can be reduced if the technology is used appropriately.

Other project teams have made different choices and have had different experiences. The presenters welcome other points of view and experiences. We hope that others can learn from these experiences and will be emboldened to pursue their own projects.

Web SIGMAA Business Meeting

Friday, August 7, 6:00 PM - 6:30 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 5

Year: 
2015