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Minicourses

Please note: all sessions are listed in Mountain Daylight Time (MDT = UTC-6:00)

Minicourses are highly interactive sessions designed in a two-part workshop format focusing on specific aspects of collegiate mathematics, the undergraduate curriculum, and mathematical pedagogy. These courses are taught by experts in the field, with two hours dedicated to each section.

To add one or both of these workshops to your MAA MathFest experience ($30 per Minicourse), register for the event and select your Minicourse(s) of choice during registration.

Game Theoretic Modeling for Math Majors

Part A: Wednesday, August 4, 1:00 p.m. - 2:50 p.m.
Part B: Friday, August 6, 1:00 p.m. - 2:50 p.m.

Description

This minicourse introduces some game theoretic tools (uitlity functions, strategic games of complete and incomplete information, and coalition games) and their application to economic, political, and biological scenarios. Along the way, participants will engage in games (perhaps winning some money or other prizes!) and discover some ways to incorporate activities and content into their own courses in game theory, modeling, or calculus.

Organizers:
David Housman, Goshen College
Richard Gillman, Valparaiso University

 

Application Inspired Linear Algebra: Using Data in the Classroom

Part A: Thursday, August 5, 1:00 p.m. - 2:50 p.m.
Part B: Saturday, August 7, 1:00 p.m. - 2:50 p.m.

Description

This minicourse is designed for participants who wish to incorporate data applications into their linear algebra courses. It provides a hands-on introduction to two data applications that inspire a host of linear algebra topics in the classroom: brain scan tomography (3d image reconstruction) and heat diffusion (diffusion welding and image warping). Participants will work with these applications using either Matlab or Octave (some prior experience is recommended, but is not required). The Matlab/Octave code for the minicourse can all be run online, so participants have the option of using Matlab/Octave installed on their own computers or using Octave-Online through their web browser. The provided code and materials are written to be used directly in an undergraduate linear algebra course. Each day of the minicourse will conclude with a dialogue on various possible customization depending on student and institutional differences.

Organizers:
Heather Moon, Washington State University
Thomas J. Asaki, Washington State University
Marie A. Snipes, Kenyon College
Amanda Harsy, Lewis University
Michael Smith, Lewis University

Sponsor: Octave Online

 

Year: 
2021