Southwestern University – Progress Report

Principal Investigator: Cameron Sawyer
Topic of Minigrant: Create Capstone Mathematics Course for Future Secondary Math Educators
Duration of Minigrant: 12/15/03 - 12/15/05
Date for Visit by PMET Monitor, given by PI: In the fall of 2004 anytime except for October 11 & 12 when we will be on fall break. The capstone course meets MW at 10:00 am. The alumni workshop will be Friday October 22.

Activities and Goals

Create a mathematics capstone course for pre-service high school mathematics teachers.
Engage the math department faculty in the education of pre-service high school mathematics teachers.
Survey and hold a workshop for alumni math teachers.
Share our work with the broader Mathematical community.

The capstone course is being offered for the first time in fall 2004.
a) We arranged for Cathy Seeley, president of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics to speak on campus this fall. b) The faculty are participating in a survey to determine their interest for further activities during the coming year.
a) The alumni math teachers were surveyed. They gave very useful suggestions for topics for the capstone as well as advice for future teachers. b) The alumni workshop will be held Friday October 22. A schedule for the day has been planned. Letters to the alumni and their principals have been sent.
a) The principal investigator attended “Implementing Handheld Technology in the Teacher Education Curriculum” T^3 Math Teacher Educator Short Course and the PMET Workshop Preparing Future High School Teachers in San Diego during summer 2004. b) The principal investigator will present “Developing a Capstone for Pre-service Secondary Teachers: A PMET Initiative” in the AMS Special Session on Mathematics and Education Reform at the Joint Mathematics Meeting in Atlanta in January 2005.