Higher Education Commons^™

Models Of Interdisciplinary Research And Service Learning At Hope College, Aaron A. Best, Matthew Dejongh, Amanda J. Barton, Jeff R. Brown, Christopher C. Barney

Publications

"Children love to explore the world around them. In doing so they are not aware of disciplinary boundaries or even of disciplines. They move freely from watching ants (biology) to building structures (engineering) to counting rocks (mathematics and geology) to seeing what things dissolve in water (chemistry). Only as they go to school do they learn that humans divide up the way we learn about the universe and start to think within disciplinary boundaries. In doing so, those children, who are now us, lose the ability to think broadly and use the insights of various ways of thinking to solve …

Evaluation Of An Adult Education Technology Program, Iwasan D. Kejawa Ed.D

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the adult education technology program at a chartered alternative adult education center in Florida. The adult education center had a low rate of students passing the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT). This study examined the impact of the use of computer technology in an effort to improve student learning in mathematics, reading, and science. Computers at the institution were used by all students for tutorials to prepare them for the FCAT and to obtain a high school diploma. The research questions for this study were as follows: 1. Is the education technology …

The Council On Undergraduate Research As A Resource For Mathematicians, Thomas Q. Sibley

Mathematics Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Trigonometry Without Sines And Geometry Without Angles, Phillip Lestmann

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2007

In his book, Divine Proportions, N. J. Wildberger advocates for a "rational" trigonometry by substituting the squares of the common trigonometric ratios for those ratios themselves. This presentation examines and critiques the claims of the book by evaluating its presented methods.

Six Ways, Yea Seven, That Scripture Is Integral To Our Science And Math Classes, Sean Bird

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2007

This paper looks at the ways the Bible informs mathematics and its role in guiding our stewardship of God’s creation.

Counting Tulips: Three Combinatorial Proofs, Eric Gossett

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2007

A gardener has r ≥ 1 red tulips and b ≥ 1 blue tulips, each in its own pot. She plans to plant them in a line along the edge of her driveway. In how many visually distinguishable ways can she arrange them?

Rules And Insights: Connecting The Mathematical And Linguistic Abilities Of C.S. Lewis, Kim Jongerius

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2007

While most biographical works on C.S. Lewis give passing reference to Lewis' problems with elementary mathematics, few have made an attempt at diagnosing the difficulty or exploring its impact on his writing. A careful study of family correspondence, however, makes it clear that his learning difficulties were not with mathematics alone and suggests connections between attitudes toward and abilities in both mathematics and language. This paper will make these connections clear and will illustrate their ties to Lewis' effective mathematical references.

The Beautiful And Sublime In Mathematics, Paul Zwier

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2007

A précis of Paul Zwier's talk presented at the meetings of the ACMS Conference at Messiah College on June 1, 2007.

Connection-Oriented Computer Science Education, Kim Kihlstrom

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2007

Computers play an important role in every area of our society and are integral in every academic discipline. Today's computer science students need a background that will prepare them for the expanding range of computing opportunities. The opportunities for computer professionals are varied and increasing in diversity. However, undergraduate computer science programs tend to be narrowly focused on programming and related technical skills. Female students in particular tend to be highly interested in exploring connections between computer science and other fields.

How can we leverage these observations at a liberal arts college, where interdisciplinary connections are highly desirable, and where …

Bach (To The Calculus Of) Variations, Charles R. Hampton

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2007

While it is quite common for professionals (doctors, lawyers, academics, etc) to be talented in many ways, including musical talent, there is a special connection between music and mathematics. Musicians collectively are not more talented in mathematics than other professionals and other academics. This paper examines the connections between math and music, particularly calculus and the music of Johann Sebastian Bach.

Portrayls Of Mathematics In Culture, Jeremy Case

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2007

This paper looks at various portrays of mathematicians in culture, and how that can influence perceptions of mathematics.

Breathing Life Into The Liberal Arts Math Course: Ten Teaching Tips, Mark Colgan

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2007

Teaching the liberal arts math course for general education students presents unique challenges, but the course also offers exciting life applications and opportunities for integrating faith with a variety of creative topics. I try to make the course interesting by actively involving students and relating mathematical topics to their lives. In this paper I will discuss some things I have tried in the liberal arts math course I teach at Taylor University: using students' names, use of undergraduate teaching assistants (T As), group guessing games, handout booklets, hangman, group projects, memory verses, reflection papers, and life lessons.

Teach A Course In The Math Of Voting And Choice, Karl-Dieter Crisman

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2007

Many mathematics instructors at the college level are looking for a curricular option that has the potential to serve a number of different constituencies. It could be to encourage more students to take math courses, or to give worthwhile options to students who need to take math but who are not ready for calculus (or its sequence). On the other hand, one may wish to add a new course for majors outside of the typical offerings, or even to prepare students for undergraduate research. The mathematics of voting and choice is ideally suited to meet all these needs in the …

Integrating Moral And Spiritual Themes In Middle School And High School Mathematics Teaching Units, Dave Klanderman, Sean Bird

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2007

In 2006, the Kuyers Institute published a total of nine math lessons for the middle school and high school which incorporate a Christian perspective. This paper examines the impact of teaching all of these lessons at a the high school level as well as selected lessons at the college level with preservice elementary and secondary mathematics teachers.

Tanzania, Mathematics, And Me: Reflections From My Work With Tanzanian Teachers, Mandi Maxwell

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2007

In June 2006 I had the privilege of participating in a four-day teacher training workshop in Mumba, Tanzania. In this paper I will discuss the challenges and triumphs of working with Tanzanian Secondary Mathematics teachers. We will discuss the educational environment, teaching strategies, and curricular issues that affect mathematics teachers in rural areas of Tanzania and contrast that with the American educational experience. We will also discuss some of the goals of the Teacher Training workshop that my colleagues and I led and look at some of the specific mathematical ideas and applications that I shared with the Mathematics teachers …

Voltaire: A Study In Finding A Needle In A Haystack, Andrew Simoson

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2007

In Euler’s popular notes to a German Princess of 1837, he describes Voltaire as laughing about the idea of a hole going to Earth’s center. Did Voltaire actually write about this idea? Herein we describe the answers to be found upon searching through the huge opus of Voltaire’s written work. The result has links to Newton’s 1687 Principia discoveries and the French Academy’s early eighteenth century international scientific expeditions to Lapland and Peru establishing the veracity of those discoveries.

An Augustinian Perspective On The Philosophy Of Mathematics, James Bradley

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2007

Enlightenment thinkers saw the universe as mechanistic and mathematics as the language in which the universe is written. They viewed mathematics as eternal, as transcending human minds, and as comprehensible by human beings. Thus mathematics, from their perspective, is our best tool for understanding the secrets of nature. This outlook was nicely summarized by Morris Kline: (Kline, 1953) In brief the whole world is the totality of mathematically expressible motions of objects in space and time, and the entire universe is a great, harmonious, and mathematically designed machine. From a Christian perspective, however, the Enlightenment outlook is flawed. It privileges …

Chaos Theory And Metaphysical (In) Determinism, Tim Rogalsky

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2007

This paper will begin by introducing the issues that arise from chaos theory for the Christian mathematician and scientist: What is at stake in this debate? It will then briefly review chaos theory, by means of two examples. It will then introduce the metaphysical interpretations given to chaos theory by three different scientist-theologians. The paper will conclude with a brief introduction to open theists, and analyze their use of chaos theory to supper their theological claims.

Introduction (2007), Angela Hare

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2007

Sixteenth Conference of the Association of Christians in the Mathematical Sciences

Schedule (2007), Association Of Christians In The Mathematical Sciences

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2007

Sixteenth Conference of the Association of Christians in the Mathematical Sciences

Table Of Contents (2007), Association Of Christians In The Mathematical Sciences

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2007

Sixteenth Conference of the Association of Christians in the Mathematical Sciences

Toward Common Nomenclature And Definitions For Natural Science Professional Collections-Related Positions, Paisley S. Cato, Hugh H. Genoways

University of Nebraska State Museum: Programs Information

Analysis of recent literature and experience with professional positions in several institutions provided the basis for proposing a basic grouping of titles for positions relating to the natural sciences collections profession. Six groups ore proposed with recommendations for education, experience, knowledge, and skills to support the key responsibilities of the positions. Discussions and critiques of these groupings ore anticipated to refine and ultimately result in a standardized nomenclature for natural science collections-related positions.

Community Service-Learning In Statistics: Course Design And Assessment, Debra L. Hydorn

Mathematics

Service-learning projects are a useful method for students to learn both the practice and value of statistical methods. Effective service learning, however, depends on several factors and can be implemented according to a variety of models. In this article, different models for incorporating service-learning in statistics courses are presented along with example statistics courses. Principles for good service-learning practice will also be presented as a means for assessing the quality of a service-learning course component.

Promoting Undergraduate Research In Mathematics At The University Of Nebraska – Lincoln, Judy L. Walker, Glenn Ledder, Richard Rebarber, Gordon S. Woodward

Department of Mathematics: Faculty Publications

The Department of Mathematics at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln (UNL) has several programs which promote undergraduate research in a variety of ways. Two of these are summer programs which draw from a national applicant pool: The Nebraska REU in Applied Mathematics (Section 1) is a traditional NSF-funded REU site, and Nebraska IMMERSE (Section 2) offers a summer “bridge” program (with a research bent) for students about to start graduate school in mathematics. IMMERSE is a relatively new program, started in 2004 as part of the department’s Mentoring through Critical Transition Points (MCTP) grant from NSF. The MCTP grant …

Introduction: Centering On The Edge, Anne Dalke, Elizabeth Mccormack

Literatures in English Faculty Research and Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Synecdoche And Surprise: Transdisciplinary Knowledge Production, Anne Dalke, Elizabeth Mccormack

Literatures in English Faculty Research and Scholarship

Using contemporary insights from feminist critical theory and the literary device of synecdoche, we argue that transdisciplinary knowledge is productive because it maximizes serendipity. We draw on student learning experiences in a course on “Gender and Science” to illustrate how the dichotomous frameworks and part-whole correspondences that are predominant in much disciplinary discourse must be dismantled for innovative intellectual work to take place. In such a process, disciplinary presumptions interrogate and unsettle one another to produce novel questions and answers.