Science and Mathematics Education Commons^™

The Effect Of Prior Knowledge In Undergraduate Performance In Chemistry: A Correlation – Prediction Study, Michael K. Seery

Theses

No abstract provided.

Teaching Mathematics For Social Justice: Reflections On A Community Of Practice For Urban High School Mathematics Teacher, Lidia Gonzalez

Publications and Research

In this article, the author reports on a study that explored, in part, the developing identities of seven New York City public high school mathematics teachers as teachers of mathematics and agents of change. Meeting regularly as a community of practice, the teachers and author/researcher discussed issues of teaching mathematics for social justice; explored activities and lessons around social justice; and created a unit of study that attempted to meet high school level mathematics standards, while addressing a social justice issue affecting the lives of urban students. The author reports on the mathematics teachers, growing awareness of and concerns about …

A Systemic Solution: Elementary Teacher Preparation In Stem Expertise And Engineering Awareness, Louis S. Nadelson, Janet Callahan, Pat Pyke, Anne Hay, Cheryl Schrader

Curriculum, Instruction, and Foundational Studies Faculty Publications and Presentations

Research shows that most K-5 teachers are typically required to complete only minimal coursework in science and mathematics, which constrains their knowledge, efficacy, and confidence for teaching STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) content. Additionally, elementary teachers, like much of the general public, have limited comprehension about the relationship between STEM concepts and engineering fields and the kind of work and societal contributions made by engineers. Yet, elementary school is a critical time in which students develop foundational understanding of STEM concepts, career options, and inquiry learning.

To address students' STEM needs and limited teacher preparation, the Idaho SySTEMic Solution …

Approximating Sums Of Infinite Series, Kara Garrison, Thomas E. Price

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2009

The Euler-Maclaurin summation formula is frequently used to efficiently estimate sums of infinite series of the form $\sum_{j=1}^{\infty}f(j)$. The purpose of this article is to describe a modification of this numerical technique designed to simplify and reduce the computational effort required to obtain an acceptable estimate of the sum. The modified formula is obtained by replacing $f\left( x\right) $ with an easily constructed polynomial like interpolating function $a\left( x\right) $ designed to simplify the calculation of the integral and derivatives associated with Euler-Maclaurin. This approach provides a more tractable algorithm which can be written as a matrix equation. Examples are …

Are Mathematical Entities Real?, Phillip E. Lestmann

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2009

This talk will introduce ontological questions related to mathematics. After surveying the views of Plato and Artistotle, other possible philosophical perspectives will be considered including realism, nominalism, conceptualism, and empiricism with their relative strengths and weaknesses. The discussion will conclude with a possible biblical foundation for mathematical ontology.

History Of Mathematics In The Service Of School Mathematics Education, Calvin Jongsma

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2009

This slide presentation outlines the author's use of history of mathematics in teaching a mathematics-content course to prospective middle school mathematics teachers. A pedagogical rationale for using history of mathematics is given, along with a case study illustrating its use for teaching the topic of ratio and proportion drawing upon the numerical and geometrical theories of such found in Euclid's Elements.

A Career Preparation Course For Students In Mathematics And Computer Science, Donna Pierce, Peter A. Tucker

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2009

As professors, we all want our students to succeed, and to be motivated to study. We all get questions from students that can be boiled down to, "What can I do with X degree?" Certainly, a quick answer is to point students to career websites, or to send them to the career services department on campus. However, we want to do better than that. We want students to learn how to investigate these future directions, and to have them think about their future more holistically--not just an effort to find a job. To that end, we have developed a course …

Integrating Dynamic Software Into Geometry Courses At Middle School, High School, And College Levels: Ten Lesson Plan And Instruction Material Units Incorporating Geometer's Sketchpad Version 4.07, Jamie Blauw, Lauren Zylstra, Dave Klanderman

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2009

This paper explores the use of dynamic geometry software (Geometer's Sketchpad) in the teaching and learning of Geometry at the high school and college level. As part of an honors project, two of the authors created a series of lesson activities to address specific geometric concepts. Each lesson implements Geometer's Sketchpad to create an engaging student-centered learning environment.

A Vision For Acms, James Bradley

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2009

This paper applies McGrath's and Heller's approach to the consideration of mathematics. It assumes that mathematics is not self-interpreting, but that, looked at from a framework informed by the Christian scriptures, it can be seen as having significant meaning and value and a transcendent purpose. In particular, it presents a classical interpretation of mathematics broadly conceived, presents two approaches to providing warrant for such an interpretation, and explores some implications. It argues, by means of the example of the classical interpretation, that the relationship between mathematics and theology is a viable area of scholarly inquiry encompassing profound and fascinating questions. …

The Development Of Mathematical And Spiritual Maturity In The Undergraduate Mathematics Curriculum, Angela Hare

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2009

Colleges and universities that teach mathematics have a responsibility to develop in students an appreciation of the powerful tools they are studying in the mathematics curriculum. Beyond this fundamental responsibility, the Christian college or university has the richer task of equipping mathematics graduates to use their mathematical knowledge and skills to sharpen their spiritual insight, to serve others, and to promote justice and freedom in society. The growth in mathematical maturity that occurs during the undergraduate years is an asset that enables Christian students of mathematics to participate in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ through their discipline of study. …

Monoids For Math Majors, Brian D. Beasley

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2009

Inspired by an MAA PREP workshop on “The Art of Factorization in Multiplicative Structures”, this paper will treat the basics of congruence monoids and arithmetical congruence monoids with their potential for a Modern Algebra or capstone course.

Professor Peacock's Symbolical Algebra: Glimpses Into The Life And Work Of A Mathematical Reformer, Richard Stout

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2009

In his 1859 obituary of George Peacock (Royal Society of London, 1859),the nineteenth century mathematician and Dean of Ely Cathedral, his friend and long-time colleague J. F. W. Herschel not only lists Peacock's accomplishments as an educator, a churchman, and a mathematician, but also describes a man who embodies warmth and wisdom, the kind of person you would enjoy knowing and having as a colleague. Writing about Peacock in the Memoirs of the Royal Astronomical Society, Augustus DeMorgan echoes these sentiments when he says that "Whenever a man of safe judgment was wanted, who united kindness and courtesy to a …

Can Critical Thinking Be Redeemed?, Jeremy Case

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2009

We often claim that mathematics develops critical thinking skills. Critical thinking has many different definitions, but problem solving, deduction, analyzing arguments, and identifying assumptions are all certainly a part of critical thinking. As the trend in higher education moves away from focusing exclusively on content towards assessment and learning outcomes, we can justify our endeavors since mathematics and critical thinking align themselves well.

However, when examining the ultimate purpose of critical thinking in higher education, we must take care. If there is no agreed upon content knowledge in our postmodern age, the focus of education falls elsewhere. How one thinks …

Fire! Lessons Learned And Applied To Computer Systems, Kim P. Kihlstrom

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2009

A wildfire swept through Santa Barbara on November 13, 2008, burning 1940 acres and destroying 230 homes. Nine structures on the Westmont College campus were destroyed as well as fifteen faculty homes near campus. What insights can be drawn from this experience? We will examine some of the lessons that can be applied to the design of intrusion-tolerant computer systems.

Supplemental Vocabulary Acquisition In The Desymbol Logic Translator, Darren F. Provine, Nancy Lynn Tinkham

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2009

DeSymbol is a program that translates first-order predicate logic expressions into English. It is designed to help students practice when learning or reviewing symbolic logic: students begin by translating English sentences into symbolic logic notation, and then they can use DeSymbol to translate the logic back into English to check their work.

The newest version of DeSymbol adds the ability for the user to expand the system’s vocabulary, using a web interface. The user can enter new nouns, verbs, or adjectives, specifying each word’s part of speech, its singular and plural forms, and (for verbs) whether the verb takes an …

Galileo's Solution To Dante's Riddle, Andrew Simoson

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2009

In Dante’s Inferno, several riddles are posed regarding the relative sizes of ordinary men versus giants versus Lucifer—all of which Galileo solves in his first public lecture—which we review herein.

Sage: Math In Your Dorm Room, From Calculus To Research, Karl-Dieter Crisman

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2009

As computers have revolutionized math research in disciplines as disparate as number theory and bioinformatics, it is natural for us to introduce our students to technology in ways beyond mere homework-checking. However, most familiar programs are either not comprehensive enough to encompass all the math in our curriculum, or are very expensive and accessible only in a lab or with a student license. The open source software package Sage addresses all of these issues.

Sage is suitable for discovery and computation in introductory courses such as calculus or linear algebra, while also being ideal for use in upper-level courses or …

Exploring The Limits Of Computing Through Exhaustive Search, Jeffrey L. Lehman

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2009

Many computing problems can be solved by identifying all possible moves or combinations of events and then picking the best solution. Problems in this domain provide fertile ground for exploring problem representation, storage requirements, and computational complexity. The problems and solution approaches are easy to understand, yet quickly push the memory and storage limits of a personal computer. This paper describes insights from a preliminary investigating of two exhaustive search problems, the 15-puzzle and Rubik’s cube. The insights gained by looking at exhaustive search problems can be integrated into classroom discussions and projects.

Arithmetic Sequences, Diophantine Equations And The Number Of The Beast, Bryan Dawson

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2009

Revelation 13:18 invites anyone with "understanding" to "calculate the number of the beast". This session reviews historical attempts using arithmetic sequences and gives conditions by which a name is "beastable" by those methods. Do these approaches make it reasonable to identify the beast based on such calculation alone?

Introduction (2009), Terry Perciante

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2009

Seventeenth Conference of the Association of Christians in the Mathematical Sciences

Paper Abstracts (2009), Association Of Christians In The Mathematical Sciences

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2009

Seventeenth Conference of the Association of Christians in the Mathematical Sciences

Schedule (2009), Association Of Christians In The Mathematical Sciences

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2009

Seventeenth Conference of the Association of Christians in the Mathematical Sciences

Table Of Contents (2009), Association Of Christians In The Mathematical Sciences

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2009

Seventeenth Conference of the Association of Christians in the Mathematical Sciences

Relevance First: How To Engage Preservice Elementary (K-8) Teacher Candidates In A Required Geoscience Course, Priscilla Field Skalac

Faculty Scholarship – Geology

Many preservice elementary teacher candidates enter the required science content classroom with poor self-efficacy attitudes. We should take an approach that will both lead our students towards an understanding of the relevance of the content, as well as self-confidence in their ability to teach geoscience. In one of four required science content courses, Earth and Space Science for Elementary Teachers, we are achieving positive outcomes by redefining our students as our apprentices.

A Shared Challenge: Improving Literacy, Numeracy And Science Learning In Queensland Primary Schools, Geoff N. Masters

Assessment and Reporting

Following the release of Queensland results in the 2008 National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) and the 2007 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) late in 2008, the Premier, Anna Bligh, requested an independent review of literacy, numeracy and science standards in Queensland primary schools. The review was asked to examine available data on the performances of Queensland students and, drawing on international research evidence, to provide advice in the areas of curriculum, assessment and teacher quality. In particular, the review was asked to identify existing effective practices, to propose ways in which these could be …

Shark Teeth Classification, Tom Brown, Sally Creel, Velda Lee

Faculty and Research Publications

On a recent autumn afternoon at Harmony Leland Elementary in Mableton, Georgia, students in a fifth-grade science class investigated the essential process of classification--the act of putting things into groups according to some common characteristics or attributes. While they may have honed these skills earlier in the week by grouping their own shoes or school supplies, this class provided the unique opportunity to classify objects that are inherently fascinating to students--shark teeth fossils! This article describes how by using the teeth to estimate the length of ancient sharks, students got a classification activity they could really sink their teeth into.

Final Report To Nsf, Morton Sternheim, Allan Feldman, Holly Hargraves

STEM Bridge for Noyce Scholars

No abstract provided.

Using Birds To Teach Biology, Bruce Byers

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

Cornell University curriculum materials http://www.birdsleuth.org/inquiry/

Mapping Missions And Geographic Positioning Systems, Rob Snyder

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

No abstract provided.

Illuminating Life: What's New And Noteworthy In, Pat O'Hara, Robert Blatchly

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

No abstract provided.