Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Let's Play Uno! Training Mathematical Thinking With An Inclusive Card Game, Thierry Meyrath, Clara-Ioana Mincu, Antonella Perucca

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

We explore probability exercises based on the game UNO. Excluding the Wild cards, the deck contains precisely 100 cards, which makes it convenient to express probabilities as percentages. We discuss the mathematical relation between cards that can be played after other cards. We also propose an algebraic exercise that relates several quantities, such as the number of cards left in the losing player’s hand. Finally, we argue that UNO is a very inclusive game: it is logistically easy to play, allows for players of different skill levels, and can be adapted to meet special needs. Beyond being playful exercises, our …

Partnering With Students To Create A Positive Image Of Mathematics, Manmohan Kaur

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

In a 1989 paper, Barbeau states, “Probably no area of human activity is as afflicted as mathematics with a gap between the public perception of its nature and what its practitioners believe it to be.” Decades later, the situation is much the same. With the technical advances in the contemporary world, mathematics affects our day-to-day activities in essential ways such as e-commerce and credit card security. Mathematical problem solving intrinsically requires creative and critical thinking. However, mathematics is often perceived as uninventive, sterile, static, and removed from human needs and culture. This paper describes how mathematicians can own the image …

How (And Why) To Start A Math Circle At The County Jail, Aram Bingham

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

Math circles are a common form of outreach usually run by professional mathematicians as enrichment for K-12 students or teachers. As a setting to stimulate interest and develop positive socialization around mathematical practice, a regular math circle can also be an effective bridge to higher education in carceral settings for both facilitators and participants. This article describes my journey through starting and running math circles in county jails, with a view towards the expansion of mathematics education as another tool for the dismantling of mass incarceration.

How Did Cauchy Prove His Integral Theorem? A Historical Reconstruction For Education Research, José Gerardo Piña-Aguirre, Rosa María Farfán Márquez

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

In his article “Mémoire sur les Intégrales Définies, prises entre des limites imaginaires” of 1825, Cauchy proves that the integral of a complex function f defined on complex numbers is independent of the path of integration if the function f remains finite and continuous along the chosen path. In contemporary literature that analyzes the mathematics of Cauchy, the specific mathematical process that allowed Cauchy to prove this result is not explicitly presented. The purpose of this manuscript is to communicate a symbolic-algebraic derivation that justifies the narrative argument used by Cauchy to support his proof, thus hopefully filling this gap. …

The Ai Academic Integrity Dichotomy: A Gender Lens, N. Sayegh, S. Larloulian, A. C. Elias, Leila Halawi

Publications

Using a gender lens, this research explores the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) educational tools and academic integrity. Studies suggest gender differences exist in academic dishonesty rationalization, with males potentially exhibiting more opportunistic behaviors. This qualitative study collected data through 30-minute face-to-face semi-structured interviews, recorded with consent, and analyzed thematically. Four significant themes emerged: Gender Perspectives on AI Tool Usage, Patterns of AI Tool Utilization, Academic Integrity Concerns, and Implications of Academic Dishonesty. The results indicate that educational establishments should adopt responsible AI governance frameworks and ethical guidelines to uphold academic standards while promoting scholarly integrity and institutional trust.

A Virtual-Reality-Based Dental Simulator For Endodontics With Automated Formative Feedback, Yousef Salah Abo El Ela

Theses and Dissertations

Advancements in virtual reality (VR) and haptic technology are transforming the landscape of medical and dental education, offering new avenues for safe, immersive, and repeatable training experiences. Within dentistry, endodontics presents unique challenges for preclinical education due to anatomical complexity, limited access to extracted teeth, ethical concerns, and the shortcomings of conventional plastic models. Despite endodontics specific plastic teeth being available, they fall short of replicating the hardness of real extracted teeth, are relatively costly compared to generic plastic teeth, and are ultimately a disposable item which makes them inadequate as a sustainable long-term solution. Extracted teeth do a much …

Artificial Intelligence In Higher Education, Opportunities, And Challenges: A Review, Sharifa Alblooshi

All Works

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a growing force of change in higher education, providing assistance to students, teachers, and administrators in teaching, learning, and administration. As AI technologies advance rapidly, they present a combination of significant opportunities and complex challenges. In this study, we examine the role of AI in higher education, highlighting both its positive and negative impacts, as well as current policy gaps and issues arising from its deployment. The literature on the topic was reviewed to determine how AI decisively impacts teaching and learning, the role of AI in assessments and academic integrity, as well as ethics, psychological …

Generative Ai Use And Self-Learning In Higher Education: The Role Of Learning Difficulties, Dana Saleh, Areej Elsayary

All Works

The rapid development of GenAI tools and their adoption in education have shown promising potential to personalize learning experiences. However, their effectiveness is influenced by factors such as familiarity, frequency of use, and the impact on self-learning. This study investigates the undergraduate students' familiarity with Generative AI (GenAI) tools, their frequency of use, and the perceived impact of GenAI on self-learning, with particular consideration of differences between students with and without learning difficulties. Prompt engineering is also included as a secondary aspect of students' GenAI experience. The research employed a quantitative survey design, utilizing validated scales to measure familiarity, usage …

Correlation Analysis Of Factors Associated With Students’ Numeracy Skills Using Decision Tree Algorithms, Yenita Roza, Arisman Adnan, Zul Indra, Tuti Alawiyah

Numeracy

Numeracy is a critical competency for academic and everyday functioning. This study investigates the key factors associated with students’ numeracy skills by employing decision tree algorithms as a data mining technique. The dataset used in this study is educational assessment data from Indonesia. Utilizing a dataset comprising 6,953 entries and 60 variables from Education Report, the research adopts an exploratory approach involving data preprocessing, exploratory data analysis, and decision tree model construction. The findings reveal that students’ literacy skills serve as the most dominant predictor of numeracy proficiency, emerging as the root node in the decision tree structure. Additional associated …

Sparc Grade 2 Integrated Coding-Math Lessons, Spatial Activities And Robot Coding (Sparc)

Spatial Activities and Robot Coding (SPARC)

SPARC-Math Grade 2 Integrated Coding-Math Lessons with related Utah Core Standards and lessons for Spatial and Programming Language and Geometry.

Integrating Adversarial Scenarios Into Llm Security Labs: An Experience Report On A Hands-On Approach, Dominic A. Wilson

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

This paper presents an exploratory case study detailed as a pedagogical experience report on integrating adversarial Large Language Model (LLM) scenarios into a graduate cybersecurity curriculum. In addition to prompt injection, sophisticated techniques such as jailbreaking and model inversion pose emerging threats that traditional computer security curricula often lack. We present the design and implementation of a structured, hands-on module addressing this gap, utilizing a custom Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) platform with local open-source LLMs. A cohort of 16 graduate students participated in this two-week pilot module, engaging in "red team" activities to actively exploit model alignment and privacy vulnerabilities. The …

Does Sequence Matter? Impact Of Redesigning Sequential Calculus Course On Students’ Learning Outcomes, Chantal Levesque-Bristol Dr., Wonki Lee Dr., Emily M. Bonem, Benjamin C. Wiles, Jennifer D. Moss, Wilella D. Burgess, Weiling Li

International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

As colleges and universities increasingly transform their STEM courses through the adoption of more active, student-centered pedagogies, there is a growing need to understand the impact of these educational innovations on student outcomes. This study is conducted in the context of a university-wide faculty development and course redesign project, IMPACT (Instruction Matters, Purdue Academic Course Transformation). IMPACT supports faculty in implementing student-centered pedagogical practices and creating equitable and inclusive learning environments. This study focuses on a sequence of two introductory calculus courses (Calculus 1 and Calculus 2, hereafter CALC 1 and CALC 2) that were transformed as part of the …

Addressing The Void Of Ai Policies In Education For Students With Specific Learning Disabilities, Mikyung Shin, Fatmana Deniz, Latesha Watson, Cynthia Dieterich, Kathy B. Ewoldt, Friggita Johnson, Jennifer E. Kong, Sung Hee Lee, April Whitehurst

Education Faculty Articles and Research

The purpose of this study was to identify the current state of artificial intelligence (AI) policies in U.S. education and propose actionable recommendations through large language model–based topic modeling and Delphi surveys. Out of 12 policy documents released between 2015 and 2025, only two documents (National Center for Learning Disabilities, 2024; W.A. v. Clarksville/Montgomery County School System, 2024) specifically addressed learning disabilities. Policy documents addressing topics such as AI-driven risk assessment, data protection, legal risk management, and ethical guidelines covering other disabilities and general AI in education policy were provided as baselines that could be discussed and validated through …

Of Metaphors And Measurements: Cross-Disciplinary Learning In K-8 English Language Arts And Mathematics, Morgan Shiver, Janet Shiver

New Jersey English Journal

English Language Arts and mathematics may seem like an unlikely pair, but together, literature and math can foster meaningful cross-disciplinary learning. This article presents strategies for using literature in K-8 classrooms to meet both ELA and math standards, enhancing student engagement and comprehension.

Interview With Orca Award Winner Reuben Rieke, Unl Chemistry; Discoverer Of Rieke Metals, Mark Griep, Reuben Rieke

UNL ORCA Interview Series

Emeritus Prof. Reuben Rieke was awarded the ORCA in 1995. Reuben was born in Fairfax, Minnesota. Something in his youth must have sparked an interest in science because he traveled 100 miles east to The University of Minnesota where he earned a bachelor’s in chemistry. Next, he earned a doctorate from the University of Wisconsin, and did postdoctoral work at the University of California Los Angeles. In 1977, after about 11 years as a faculty member in the chemistry department at the University of North Carolina, he joined UNL as a full professor of chemistry. I’ll share two remarkable facts …

Statistics For Social Scientists Who Are A Little Afraid Of Them, Kristie L. Campana

MSU Authors Collection

This is a free textbook aimed at helping advanced undergraduate/beginner graduate students navigate statistics in the social sciences. All resources for this book are released under a creative commons license CC BY-SA 4.0. which means you are able to share, copy, and distribute the material in any medium or format, and that you can adapt and transform upon this content for any purpose. However, this can occur only under the following terms:

You must give appropriate attributions to the text, provide a link to the license, and indicate if any alterations to the text have been made. This can be …

Confluence, Vol. 4, Iss. 2, Full Issue

The Confluence

No abstract provided.

Teaching Numeracy For Social Justice: Educational Equity, Esther Isabelle Wilder, Crystal C. Rodriguez, Caterina Shost, Eduardo Vianna, Frank Wang

Numeracy

The special collection, “Teaching Numeracy for Social Justice: Educational Equity,” focuses on how quantitative reasoning (QR) can function as a vehicle for equity, empowerment, and democratic participation. Building on a longstanding tradition that treats numeracy as inseparable from social justice, these contributions highlight how progressive pedagogies (e.g., active learning, authentic research, and equity-oriented assessment) have the potential to broaden access for students historically excluded from quantitative fields. The studies span a variety of conceptual frameworks, introductory and advanced quantitative instruction, and interdisciplinary applications, showcasing how inclusive QR practices can build confidence, agency, and real-world understanding. These articles demonstrate that when …

The Polymathematician, Leo Goldmakher

Journal of Math Circles

In loving memory of Bob Kaplan, the wisest and most inspiring seven-year-old I’ve ever met.

Exploring The Role Of Occupational Therapy In The Delivery Of Trauma-Informed Services To Hospital-Based Clients Ot, Frank Czuba

Journal of Applied Disciplines

Hospitalization can traumatize clients and impact overall health outcomes, leading to increased hospital readmission rates and resulting in a negative impact for both clients and providers. Limited information exists regarding how hospital-based occupational therapists evaluate and address trauma, even though incorporating trauma-informed principles into professional practice can enhance the occupational therapy process. The study explored the comprehension and perceived significance of trauma-informed tenets among occupational therapists delivering services in hospital-based settings. A quantitative research study with an exploratory design was implemented to explore how occupational therapists (OT) understand and utilize trauma-informed practices with their clients in a hospital setting. An …

First-Generation Medical School Applicants: A Quantitative Study Designed To Identify Areas Of Educational Support, Bethsabe Romero, Amanda K. Burbage

EVMS School of Health Professions Faculty Publications

First-generation (First Gen) students are unique medical school applicants. Due to their lived experience, they approach patient care by prioritizing trust, comfort and understanding. They have proven ability to overcome obstacles and were found to be more resilient than their continuing generation (Cont Gen) peers. Despite these notable attributes, they face unique challenges in gaining medical school acceptance. There are very few quantitative studies examining this student subpopulation, and our study identifies characteristics of first-generation medical school applicants while highlighting areas of needed support. This cross-sectional study used deidentified Application and Matriculating Student Questionnaire survey data that was obtained from …

Geoscience Mathematics Self-Efficacy Scale (Geomses) For Majors-Level Undergraduates: Psychometric Data, Michael Coe, Rory Mcfadden, Beth Pratt-Sitaula, Eric Baer

Science Education Resource Center (SERC)

Self-efficacy is often investigated as a key attitudinal component of academic persistence and performance, and self-efficacy surveys can serve in research models as efficient and non-threatening assessment tools to augment or substitute for achievement or performance measures. The Geoscience Mathematics Self-Efficacy Scale (GeoMSES) builds on prior work in measurement of self-efficacy for mathematics by focusing specifically on students’ capacity to apply mathematical skills to typical problems encountered in majors-level undergraduate geoscience courses or in professional geoscience settings. The scale was developed as part of program evaluation research for a set of learning modules designed to augment existing geoscience curricula. In …

Do Algorithms Dream Of Electric Muses? Teaching Creative Writing In The Age Of Generative Ai, Anna Leahy

English Faculty Articles and Research

In Philip K. Dick’s novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? androids are given a psychological test to confirm they are not human before killing them. The story’s end suggests that humans will treat a seemingly harmless android as authentically as a human even when humans are aware the android is not human. Students use tools like ChatGPT, which function as autocomplete on steroids, to produce text using probabilistic relationships among words, and instructors can’t always tell the difference between average student writing and Gen AI text. In creative writing classes, instructors might use thinking for oneself as a central …

Machine Learning: Thematic Feature Grouping, And The Magnificent Seven: A Forecasting Analysis, Mirarmia Jalali, Mohammad Najand, Andrew Cohen

Finance Faculty Publications

This study examines the predictability of monthly excess returns for the “Magnificent Seven” U.S. technology firms using machine learning and economically motivated thematic feature grouping. Framed as a focused study of the most systemically consequential equity panel in modern markets—seven firms representing over 30% of the S&P 500—the analysis confronts a small-N, large-P environment where economically structured dimensionality reduction is essential. Using 154 firm-level characteristics categorized into 13 economic themes, we evaluate linear, penalized, tree-based, and neural network models in a small-N, large-P setting. Unrestricted models suffer substantial overfitting and fail to outperform the historical average benchmark out-of-sample. In contrast, …

Investigating The Viability Of Fully Online Asynchronous Physics Instruction In Formal Education, Clifton W. Massey-Noel

Physics Dissertations

In this dissertation we present results from two consecutive investigations into the fully online asynchronous modality in Physics Education. We first discuss the efficacy of a fully online asynchronous section of Modern Physics held in Fall 2024. The asynchronous section is compared with four prior partially-flipped sections of the same class, two of which were held in-person, and two of which were held synchronously online. Results suggest that all three modalities can be made to be about equally as effective. We also discuss the efficacy of a fully online asynchronous section of Calculus-Based Introductory Mechanics held in Fall 2025. The …

A Data-Driven Framework For Automation Readiness In Minnesota State University, Mankato Course Scheduling, Prisca Bongu Payanzo Maba

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

University course scheduling is one of the most complex optimization problems in higher education institutions. With universities growing in size and offering a broad spectrum of majors and disciplines, the number of possible course scheduling combinations increases exponentially, rendering traditional ways of scheduling ineffective.

Although operations research has extensively studied automated scheduling algorithms, there has been limited investigations into the organization readiness of academic departments to implement such systems. This paper offers a hybrid data science framework that assesses departmental readiness for scheduling automation.

The study combines qualitative Zoom interview data from 19 academic departments with institutional scheduling rules from …

Computational And Ai Literacy: Lessons Learned From Computer Science Education, Sharin Jacob, Yenda Prado, Quinn Burke

Journal of Computer Science Integration

This conceptual paper explores the intersection of computational thinking (CT) and artificial intelligence (AI) literacy, proposing a framework integrating AI literacy into existing computational literacy models. We argue that computational thinking (CT) skills form the foundation for AI literacy, and that lessons learned from decades of computer science (CS) education research can ably guide the development of AI literacy instruction for a wide range of  students and within integrative contexts. Drawing on Kafai and Proctor's (2022) conceptualization of computational literacy, as well as encompassing cognitive, situated, and critical dimensions, we extend their framework to advance our understanding of AI literacy. …

First-Job Contract Review Cheat Sheet, Johanna Jones-Morris, Ashlee Martellacci

Teaching and Learning Resources

This cheat sheet helps first-time employees understand what to review before signing an employment contract. It highlights job duties, compensation, scheduling, employment terms, benefits, restrictive clauses, worker classification, and common red flags so that individuals can ask informed questions and recognize potentially unfair or unclear terms.

A Case Study Of Gender And Online Team Communication In Software Engineering Education, Rita Garcia, Christoph Treude

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Collaboration is crucial in Software Engineering (SE), yet factors like gender bias can shape team dynamics and behaviours. This descriptive case study examines an eight-week project involving 39 SE students across eight teams contributing to GitHub projects. Focusing on gender, we used a mixed-methods approach to analyse Slack communications, identifying gender differences in how students respond to initiated communications and comparing how students’ communications influenced other aspects of students’ performance, including learning gains. We found higher help-seeking and leadership behaviours in the all-woman team involved in this case study, while men responded more slowly. Although communication did not directly affect …

Hope Is An Act, Not A Wish: An Autoethnographic Journey Of Reimagining Disability As A Catalyst For Playing With Possibility, Creativity, And Innovation Within Liminal Spaces, Jennifer Salerno

Doctor of Education

This dissertation aimed to challenge and move beyond unjust social norms related to individual ability and independence, finding such norms based on a fictitious ideal of human capacity. Instead, an ethic of interdependence, such as encompasses the natural world, is defined and promoted in turn. People with disabilities are considered deficient and marginalized because they deviate from ableist norms (Flynn, 2020). They face significant barriers to establishing and maintaining relationships with nature as a result of ability expectations around how bodies should look and behave in the natural world (Wolbring & Lisitza, 2017). People with disabilities covet normality and the …