A Multi-Institutional Analysis Of Instructional Beliefs And Practices In Gateway Courses To The Sciences,
2019
University of Kentucky
A Multi-Institutional Analysis Of Instructional Beliefs And Practices In Gateway Courses To The Sciences, Joseph J. Ferrare
Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation Faculty Publications
This paper builds on previous studies of instructional practice in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics courses by reporting findings from a study of the relationship between instructors’ beliefs about teaching and learning and their observed classroom practices. Data collection took place across six institutions of higher education and included in-depth interviews with 71 instructors and more than 140 hours of classroom observations using the Teaching Dimensions Observation Protocol. Thematic coding of interviews identified 31 distinct beliefs that instructors held about the ways students best learn introductory concepts and skills in these courses. Cluster analysis of the observation data suggested that …
Impact Of Bioinspired Robots On Veterans Pursuing Stem Degrees,
2019
Old Dominion University
Impact Of Bioinspired Robots On Veterans Pursuing Stem Degrees, Otilia Popescu, Vukica M. Jovanovic, Krishnanand Kaipa, Karina Arcaute, Anthony W. Dean
Engineering Technology Faculty Publications
The gap in the area of advanced manufacturing skilled workforce and the efforts in guiding veterans towards STEM careers are merged in the NSF funded project presented in this paper. While most of the products and STEM educational programs focused on a maker concept that are currently available are specifically designed for young population, at various K-12 grade levels, to increase their interest in STEM and engineering careers in particular, there is a limited availability of such programs to address adult population. The study presented in this paper focuses on developing and implementing a series of workshops for veterans, using …
Winter 2019,
2019
Nova Southeastern University
Developing An After-School Program To Increase Stem Interest, Awareness And Knowledge Of Minority Females In A Title I Middle School,
2019
Nova Southeastern University
Developing An After-School Program To Increase Stem Interest, Awareness And Knowledge Of Minority Females In A Title I Middle School, Steven R. Terrell Ph.D., Deirdre Krause Ph.D., Bruce G. Campbell Ed.D.
FDLA Journal
Educators, politicians and industry professionals note that the number of opportunities for workers in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields grow exponentially over time. Accordingly, emphasis is placed on our schools to produce graduates capable of filling these positions. While these efforts are promising, there is a notable absence of females and minorities in the STEM professions. In an attempt to understand the reasons for this disparity, many educators believe a lack of interest in the STEM field begins at an early age, and disenfranchised students are not afforded the opportunities given to students in more affluent areas …
The Potential Of Socio-Biologically Relevant Mobile Applications To Attract Girls To Stem,
2019
Nova Southeastern University
The Potential Of Socio-Biologically Relevant Mobile Applications To Attract Girls To Stem, Vanaja Nethi, Santanu De
FDLA Journal
Stimulating girls’ interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) when they are in school, and sustaining that interest, is critical in motivating girls to choose STEM-related disciplines in higher education and enter STEM careers. Research indicates that girls show an interest in STEM until about 11-12 years of age, but this starts to wane by the time they are 15-16 years. Thus, there is a clear need to focus on sustaining the interest of girls in STEM at middle or high school levels. Research has shown that one of the main drivers that impact girls’ interest in STEM is …
Developing Mathematicians: The Benefits Of Weaving Spiritual And Disciplinary Discipleship,
2019
Taylor University
Developing Mathematicians: The Benefits Of Weaving Spiritual And Disciplinary Discipleship, Patrick Eggleton
ACMS Conference Proceedings 2019
Part of the goal of discipleship at the Christian university is for faith development to seep into the hearts of the students. Similarly, the goal of the development of future mathematicians is for the mathematical proficiencies, the practices like problem solving and analytical reasoning that permeate each of the courses, to seep into the hearts of our majors. This presentation shares how the weaving of our spiritual and disciplinary discipleship efforts benefits the faith development of our students while also helping them to think like a mathematician.
From Perfect Shuffles To Landau's Function,
2019
Presbyterian College
From Perfect Shuffles To Landau's Function, Brian D. Beasley
ACMS Conference Proceedings 2019
If we view a given shuffle of a deck of cards as a permutation, then repeatedly applying this same shuffle will eventually return the deck to its original order. In general, how many steps will that take? What happens in the case of so-called perfect shuffles? What type of shuffle will require the greatest number of applications before restoring the original deck? This talk will address those questions and provide a brief history of the work of Edmund Landau on the maximal order of a permutation in the symmetric group on n objects. It will also note some recent progress …
Replacing Remedial Mathematics With Corequisites In General Education Mathematics Courses,
2019
California State University
Replacing Remedial Mathematics With Corequisites In General Education Mathematics Courses, Alana Unfried
ACMS Conference Proceedings 2019
Many colleges and universities offer courses, such as Remedial Mathematics or Elementary Algebra, that underprepared students must complete before they can take a college-level mathematics course. However, nationally there is a push to replace remedial mathematics courses with corequisite courses instead. This design allows students to enter directly into their general education mathematics course instead of first overcoming the barrier of a remedial course. Corequisite mathematics courses were implemented across the 23-campus California State University system during the 2018-19 academic year. I will discuss the design and implementation of a corequisite structure at California State University, Monterey Bay, in particular …
Charles Babbage And Mathematical Aspects Of The Miraculous,
2019
Anderson University
Charles Babbage And Mathematical Aspects Of The Miraculous, Courtney K. Taylor
ACMS Conference Proceedings 2019
Charles Babbage is widely known as the father of the computer, but he is lesser known for his contributions to natural theology and apologetics. In 1837 Babbage wrote the Ninth Bridgewater Treatise in response to a series of writings concerning faith and science that had been commissioned by the Royal Society. Among the remarkable features of the Ninth Bridgewater are mathematical analogies concerning the miraculous. We will explore these ideas, which range from the difference engine to a family of fourth degree curves, illustrating that for Babbage, miracles are not exceptions to natural law, but rather instances of a larger …
The Applicability Of Mathematics And The Naturalist Die,
2019
California Baptist University
The Applicability Of Mathematics And The Naturalist Die, Ricardo J. Cordero-Soto
ACMS Conference Proceedings 2019
Philosopher and Christian apologist William Lane Craig has proposed a valid deductive argument for God’s existence that is rooted in the applicability of mathematics to the physical universe. This argument was presented by Craig during a debate with philosopher and atheist Alex Rosenberg. During the debate, Rosenberg presented a rebuttal to the soundness of this argument by appealing to chance as an explanation to the applicability of mathematics to the physical universe. In this talk, the presenter will discuss how the naturalist die is unable to produce “chance application” of mathematics while defending the soundness of the argument in light …
Faith, Mathematics, And Science: The Priority Of Scripture In The Pursuit And Acquisition Of Truth,
2019
Indiana Wesleyan University
Faith, Mathematics, And Science: The Priority Of Scripture In The Pursuit And Acquisition Of Truth, Bob Mallison
ACMS Conference Proceedings 2019
This research will examine some approaches for identifying truth as well as some issues involved in recognizing reliable sources of information. We will proceed from a decidedly Christian perspective including the conviction that God created an orderly universe (and that studying nature provides valuable information about Him) and that His Word, the Bible, even more clearly expresses in- formation about Him. We will discuss some of the essential tools used by mathematicians and scientists for the discovery of truth – namely, models. We will examine some valuable models from history, and briefly discuss that as additional scientific information became available, …
Teaching Mathematics At An African University -- My Experience,
2019
University of the Gambia
Teaching Mathematics At An African University -- My Experience, Kathleen Lewis
ACMS Conference Proceedings 2019
For eight years (2010-2018), I was the head of the math department at The University of The Gambia, a small, new (started in 1999) university in a very small, mostly Muslim, West African country that most Americans have never heard of. During that time, a number of other Americans and Europeans came to teach for shorter periods of time. I will talk about what this experience was like for us, both the good and the bad. I will describe the possibilities for others to spend either a sabbatical or an extended period of time at such a university and suggest …
Lagrange's Interpolation, Chinese Remainder, And Linear Equations,
2019
Point Loma Nazarene University
Lagrange's Interpolation, Chinese Remainder, And Linear Equations, Jesús Jiménez
ACMS Conference Proceedings 2019
Consider a finite set of points {(x1, y1), (x2, y2), . . . , (xk , yk )} in R2. The Lagrange’s interpolation problem is to find a polynomial p(x) of degree k − 1 satisfying p(xi) = yi for 1 ≤ i ≤ k. We will recall the solution to Lagrange’s interpolation problems as an instance of the Chinese Remainder Theorem. Next, we will show that a similar approach can be used to construct solutions to a system of linear equations.
Addressing Challenges In Creating Math Presentations,
2019
Liberty University
Addressing Challenges In Creating Math Presentations, David Schweitzer
ACMS Conference Proceedings 2019
When it comes to composing presentation slides with extensive mathematical content, each of the slide creation platforms has at least one significant drawback. Whether it is Beamer and its steep learning curve, PowerPoint and its relative inefficiency with math, Google Slides and its complete lack of math capabilities, or some other platform, no one tool single-handedly offers an ideal solution. Additionally, if users desire creative flexibility, such as the ability to easily change fonts or colors, the platforms’ respective limitations can become even more pronounced. In a project that has been well suited for undergraduate research, the presenter and his …
Overcoming Stereotypes Through A Liberal Arts Math Course,
2019
Winthrop University
Overcoming Stereotypes Through A Liberal Arts Math Course, Jessica Hamm
ACMS Conference Proceedings 2019
"I'm just not a math person.” We’ve heard this comment countless times from our students. It is a mentality that both paralyzes and strangely comforts them. In this talk I will describe how I use my liberal arts Joy of Mathematics course to help students address and overcome stereotypes. In particular, I will discuss a specific assignment as well as share some student comments and perspectives on how this course helped change their viewpoint on more than just math.
Maximum Elements Of Ordered Sets And Anselm's Ontological Argument,
2019
Miami University
Maximum Elements Of Ordered Sets And Anselm's Ontological Argument, Doug Ward
ACMS Conference Proceedings 2019
I will present a simple theorem concerning maximal elements of a set T endowed with an ordering “>” that is antisymmetric, i.e., if A and B are elements of T , we cannot have both A > B and B > A. A special case of this theorem is a simple version of the ontological argument, one of the classical proofs for the existence of God.
Numerical Range Of Toeplitz Matrices Over Finite Fields,
2019
Taylor University
Numerical Range Of Toeplitz Matrices Over Finite Fields, Derek Thompson, Maddison Guillaume Baker, Amish Mishra
ACMS Conference Proceedings 2019
We characterize the kth numerical range of all n×n Toeplitz matrices with a constant main diagonal and another single, non-zero diagonal, where the matrices are over the field Zp[i], with p a prime congruent to 3 mod 4. We find that, for k ∈ Z∗, the kth numerical range is always equal to Zp[i] with the exception of the scaled identity. We also use similar techniques to discover a general connection between the 0th numerical range and the kth numerical range. Lastly, we conclude with a conjecture regarding the general numerical range of all triangular Toeplitz matrices.
Is Mathematical Truth Time Dependent? Comments From A Paper By Judith Grabiner,
2019
Gordon College
Is Mathematical Truth Time Dependent? Comments From A Paper By Judith Grabiner, Richard Stout
ACMS Conference Proceedings 2019
Judith Grabiner, a renowned historian of mathematics, has written many papers related to signifi- cant changes in the content and nature of analysis, from the 17th through the 19th century. In her paper “Is Mathematical Truth Time Dependent?” Professor Grabiner gives several reasons for the changing nature and requirements in rigor that occurred over this period of two hundred years. In this talk I will briefly summarize her conclusions, particularly in light of how they might influence a Christian perspective on mathematics.
Models, Values, And Disasters,
2019
Gordon College
Models, Values, And Disasters, Michael H. Veatch
ACMS Conference Proceedings 2019
Decision-support models have values embedded in them and are subjective to varying degrees. Philosophical and ethical perspectives on operations research models are used to describe this subjectivity. Approaches to model building are then suggested that take into account subjectivity and values. For the decisions to reflect the right values, the model must align with the decision-maker’s values. I argue that it is appropriate and important for Christians applying mathematical models to be keenly aware of decision-maker’s values and seek to reflect them in the model. Disaster response planning is presented as an example where incorporating values is challenging. The responding …
Factors That Motivate Students To Learn Mathematics,
2019
Calvin University
Factors That Motivate Students To Learn Mathematics, Dave Klanderman, Sarah Klanderman, Benjamin Gliesmann, Josh Wilkerson, Patrick Eggleton
ACMS Conference Proceedings 2019
What motivates some students to want to learn mathematics while others do not share similar motivation? Are these factors intrinsic, extrinsic, or a combination of both? To answer these questions, we adapted a survey originally developed by Tapia (1996) and later shortened by Lim and Chapman (2015). We administered the survey in multiple middle schools, a high school, and multiple colleges and universities. We obtained over 100 completed surveys for each of these educational levels. This presentation offers an analysis of these data, including descriptive statistics and confidence intervals for each educational level. For the college and university sample, we …
