Education Commons^™

The Need For A Graphics Programming Course, Nathan Gossett

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2011

A discussion of the benefits of offering a course on programming Computer Graphics in an undergraduate Computer Science curriculum. A sample course outline is provided, as well as a discussion of ways to conduct lectures, labs and a list of suggested assignments. A discussion of “dos and don’t s will also be presented, including a list of required prerequisite courses and skills that students would need in order for the course to be a success.

Lesson’S Learned: A Journey In Computational Science, Ryan Botts, Lori Carter

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2011

Inspired by work on building a computational science program and student questions about modeling, we aim to discuss some of our experiences with computational science. We will first clarify what computational science is, why it is a legitimate science, why it is worth our students’ time and what makes it a challenging field. We will also discuss how computer scientists, mathematicians and laboratory scientists each have something different to contribute to the field.

Google And The Mathematics Of Web Search, Michael Rempe

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2011

This article examines the algorithms used by Google to rank search engine results, called PageRank.

Real Simulations And Simulated Reality, Wayne Iba

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2011

Movies such as The Matrix have stimulated popular interest in “brain in a vat” scenarios. Amidst the traditional questions of the mind, we tend to overlook an integral enabling component—the world simulation—which merits consideration in its own right. When facing the simulations in these imagined scenarios, we struggle with conceptual muddles regarding what is real and not. In this paper, I argue that simulated worlds are every bit as real as the one we inhabit. This turns out to be important when considering the possibility, as suggested by Nick Bostrom, that the world we experience as “real” is actually a …

History Of Mathematics: An Exercise In Strengths, Mary Walkins

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2011

As a leader in strengths-based education, Lee University encourages each new student, since fall of 2003, to take the Gallup StrengthsFinder to determine their top 5 signature themes (out of a possible 34). At Lee, the syllabus for the History of Mathematics course calls for students to write a paper on a mathematician. In the fall of 2009, as an added dimension, students were asked to critically think about and incorporate the strengths they believe that mathematician may have. Each student was required to compare and contrast his or her strengths with those of the mathematician. This was done with …

Pascal’S Thoughts Seen In The Light Of Scripture, Loredana Ciurariu

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2011

In this paper we study Pascal’s character via his writings. There are indications that his health might have deteriorated following the experiments he had done using mercury. He talks in his Pensées about faith, grace and purity of the heart, about the peoples and the way in which God leads them, about wisdom, dreams and hopes and that which lies in the human heart. If a statistics was done concerning the most used books and verses from the Bible in Pensées, these would be: Ecclesiastes, Proverbs, Matthew, Mark, Jeremiah, Hebrews, Romans, Luke, Isaiah, Psalms. But those which occupy a central …

The History Of The Area Between A Line And A Parabola, Gordon A. Swain

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2011

This is a review of various methods used by many mathematicians to determine the area of the segment bounded by a parabola and a line. We include descriptions of proofs from the Greek period (Archimedes), the Arabic period (ibn Qurra and ibn Sinan), and the 1600's in European (Galileo, Roberval, Fermat and Wallis, among others), in order to display the changing nature of mathematics.

Pk Mathematics, Jeremy Case

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2011

An examination of the historical development of mathematics and how mathematical history has changed by looking at mathematicians who were also PKs (Preacher’s Kids).

The Mathematics Of Cubic Sudoku, Nicholas Zoller

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2011

In the last decade the Sudoku puzzle has fixed itself in America’s puzzle consciousness. Sudoku puzzles share space with crossword puzzles and word finds in newspaper puzzle sections, and several books have been written for the Sudoku playing community. Mathematicians are among the most dedicated Sudoku players. Although some are content with simply solving puzzle after puzzle, others have used tools from combinatorics and algebra to study its important properties.

We investigate a variant of Sudoku called Cubic Sudoku, as well as Cubic Sudoku’s simpler relative, Cubic Shidoku. We successfully count the number of Cubic Shidoku puzzles in two different …

What We Can Learn From Process Theology: Integrating Faith And Mathematics, Josh Wilkerson

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2011

In the inaugural issue of The Journal of the Association of Christians in the Mathematical Sciences, James Bradley, the founding editor, suggests fourteen areas that need to be addressed by Christian mathematicians who are series about integrating their faith and their work. One of those areas is the topic of this paper. Bradly frames the question: “Some thinkers (perhaps influenced by process theology) have asserted the idea that God’s creation is not a finished work but that he creates new mathematical objects through mathematicians. Is this idea theologically sound? Is it helpful for our understanding of mathematics?” I copy …

A Bayesian Secondary Analysis In An Asthma Study, Samuel P. Wilcock, Vernon M. Chinchilli, Stephen P. Peters

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2011

A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine by the Asthma Clinical Research Network (ACRN) compared three different treatments for their effectiveness in treating adults with uncontrolled asthma. This paper will describe the study design and its results, then detail the beginnings of a secondary analysis using Bayesian methods to estimate the parameters of interest. The methods will be explained, and the preliminary estimates given and contextualized. The paper will conclude with a discussion of the next steps and the goals for further analysis of the data in this study.

Math History Study Abroad Program: Learning Math History In A Cultural Context, Donna Pierce

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2011

In January 2011 fifteen Whitworth University mathematics students and I, their professor, traveled through Europe to study the history of mathematics. The goal was to gain an understanding of how mathematical ideas have developed over time; how social, cultural and historical factors have influenced the development of mathematics and conversely, how mathematics contributed to society and human culture. Over a course of three weeks we traveled to three countries and over a half dozen cities, viewing the tools, papers and workbooks or these mathematicians, seeing their engineering and artistic creations, and learning from local experts as they guided us through …

Two Faith Integration Projects For Freshman Majors, Nicholas J. Willis

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2011

Two projects will be presented that integrate faith and Mathematics in a freshman Introduction to Proofs class at George Fox University. The first project asks students to look at the life of a Christian Mathematician. The focus of this project is to show students that many great mathematicians also had immense faith. The second project asks students to take a close look at their own life. How do they plan to live a life of Christian faith in their chosen profession? Both projects are designed to encourage students to look at their careers in Mathematics as a vocation.

Connecting Mathematics Students To Philosophy And Faith, Nathan Moyer

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2011

This paper describes a class project that helps students wrestle with the deep philosophical questions of mathematics in a relevant way. Through article readings and group discussions, various historical views of mathematical philosophy are examined and critiqued. An emphasis is placed upon students making meaningful connections between their own views of mathematics and their personal Christian faith or worldview.

Using Original Historical Mathematics Texts In The Classroom, Maria Zack

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2011

Incorporating information from the history of mathematics into undergraduate mathematics courses is an effective way to help students make connections between the mathematics they are learning and their general education courses. It also helps students to see mathematics as living subject that has changed over time. One way to introduce historical topics into a variety of classes is through the use of original mathematical texts. This paper describes how non-experts can make use of original texts and provides sources for identifying candidate texts.

The Study Of Mathematics: A Text From A Christian Perspective, Doug Phillippy

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2011

This paper examines the integration of the Christian faith with the teaching of mathematical texts using the author’s textbook, The Study of Mathematics: Developing a mature understanding of mathematical thought, with consideration of Christian faith and vocation.

Where, Oh Waring? The Classic Problem And Its Extensions, Brian D. Beasley

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2011

This paper will sketch brief outlines of Edward Waring’s life and the history behind the eventual solution to his famous conjecture about expressing positive integers as the sum of kth powers. In addition, it will present some of the related questions currently being studied, such as expressing sufficiently large integers as sums of powers, sums of powers of primes, and sums of unlike powers.

Paper Abstracts (2011), Association Of Christians In The Mathematical Sciences

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2011

Eighteenth Conference of the Association of Christians in the Mathematical Sciences

Introduction (2011), Russell Howell

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2011

Eighteenth Conference of the Association of Christians in the Mathematical Sciences

Schedule (2011), Association Of Christians In The Mathematical Sciences

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2011

Eighteenth Conference of the Association of Christians in the Mathematical Sciences

Table Of Contents (2011), Association Of Christians In The Mathematical Sciences

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2011

Eighteenth Conference of the Association of Christians in the Mathematical Sciences

Acms 18th Biennial Conference Proceedings, Association Of Christians In The Mathematical Sciences

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2011

Association of Christians in the Mathematical Sciences 18th Biennial Conference Proceedings, June 1-4, 2011, Westmont College, Santa Barbara, CA.

Getting To Global Yes! Designing A Distributed Student Collaboration, Selma Limam Mansar, Randy Weinberg, Benjamin Kok Siew Gan

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

The authors have taught a course called 'Global Project Management' for four years, engaging students in three international locations in hands-on distance projects. The distance projects are intended to provide students with enriching, realistic global project experience. With experience, improved planning and better coordination, each iteration of the distance projects has improved. In this paper, the authors present lessons learned and a mind map demonstrating key aspects of design of global hands-on projects.

The Pace Eportfolio As Educational Passport: Enhancing Students' Interdisciplinary, Co-Curricular And Experiential Learning, Beth Klingner, Linda Anstendig

Cornerstone 3 Reports : Interdisciplinary Informatics

No abstract provided.

Education In The Environment: A Strategy For Continued Interagency Outdoor Education Programming: Quarterly Progress Report: Period Ending May 2011, Margaret N. Rees

Reports (PLI Education)

Highlights of the university’s focused efforts during the past three months include the following:

• Two Families in Nature events were held, benefitting approximately 140 people
• The Families in Nature program was honored at the Nevada Recreation & Park Society 2011 Conference (March 16-18). It was chosen both as Program of the Year and Best Program for Children
• More than 500 4th-6th grade students participated in Wilderness Education activities and saw the “Art of Nature” Wilderness presentation
• The Nevada Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights was promoted through 11 outreach booths and events
• A total of 17 teachers participated in a workshop …

President Higdon's 93rd Commencement Address, Leo I. Higdon Jr.

Commencement Addresses

President Higdon tells the Centennial Class of 2011: "You have the unique experience of graduating when the College is celebrating its 100^th anniversary. Every Commencement is an opportunity to look back and look ahead. Your Commencement is special because the whole College is looking with you."

Further, he lauds the graduates who have "shared your talents with the world through study abroad, internships and special research projects. I am impressed and deeply gratified by the work you have done – it is a strong indication of the impact you will continue to have throughout your lives. You have become …

College Of Engineering Senior Design Competition Spring 2011, University Of Nevada, Las Vegas

Fred and Harriet Cox Senior Design Competition Projects

Part of every UNLV engineering student’s academic experience, the senior design project stimulates engineering innovation and entrepreneurship. Each student in their senior year chooses, plans, designs, and prototypes a product in this required element of the curriculum. A capstone to the student’s educational career, the senior design project encourages the student to use everything learned in the engineering program to create a practical, real world solution to an engineering challenge.

The senior design competition helps focus the senior students in increasing the quality and potential for commercial application for their design projects. Judges from local industry evaluate the projects on …

College Of Engineering Senior Design Competition Fall 2011, University Of Nevada, Las Vegas

Fred and Harriet Cox Senior Design Competition Projects

Part of every UNLV engineering student’s academic experience, the senior design project stimulates engineering innovation and entrepreneurship. Each student in their senior year chooses, plans, designs, and prototypes a product in this required element of the curriculum. A capstone to the student’s educational career, the senior design project encourages the student to use everything learned in the engineering program to create a practical, real world solution to an engineering challenge. The senior design competition helps focus the senior students in increasing the quality and potential for commercial application for their design projects. Judges from local industry evaluate the projects on …

How Much Do U.S. University Students Know, And Want To Know, About Sustainability And Green Building? The Findings Of A Survey, And Possible Implications For General Elective Curricula., Jeremy R. Farner

Purdue Polytechnic Masters Theses

Using the survey approach, this investigation examined the attitudes and interest of college students at two universities in different geographic locations within the United States. Approximately 24,000 students from all disciplines and majors at Weber State University (WSU) in Utah, and 4,000 at Purdue University in Indiana, were invited to participate in a study to determine current knowledge, familiarity, and interest in topics within the sustainability and Green Building educational arena. The goal of this study was to determine what students already know, would like to know, and how much interest there would be in developing …

Factors Related To Math Performance And Potential Benefits Of One-On-One Instruction, Amanda Zagame

Honors Projects in Mathematics

This fall 2010 study of Bryant University students enrolled in freshman-level math courses considered factors related to college-level math performance, including gender, math self-efficacy, math anxiety, and utilization of professors’ office hours and/or tutoring center services. Female students at Bryant reported lower levels of math self-efficacy and higher levels of math anxiety, both of which research has shown to be negatively correlated with test scores. The use of one-on-one instruction was expected to provide a potential counterweight to this equation. Results from the 287 initial and 229 final surveys administered in this study did not support this hypothesis. This phenomenon …