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Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons™

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2014

Education

Claremont Colleges

Articles 1 - 13 of 13

Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Op-Ed: Solve This Math Problem: The Gender Gap, Francis Su Aug 2014

Op-Ed: Solve This Math Problem: The Gender Gap, Francis Su

All HMC Faculty Publications and Research

Women may not face such blatant impediments to doing math and science today. But Mirzakhani's achievement aside, we are still a long way from adequately recognizing the outstanding work of women.

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Math Talk: Preparing Your Conference Presentation, Gizem Karaali Aug 2014

Math Talk: Preparing Your Conference Presentation, Gizem Karaali

Pomona Faculty Publications and Research

If you are a typical reader of this blog, then you recently wrapped up your finals week and then dutifully made a summer plan. And then came the summer. Your plan may have involved working on a manuscript, preparing for a qualifying exam or a new course coming up in the fall, drafting a grant proposal, learning a new language (human or machine), eating kale in four different forms, and perhaps some fun times under the sun. Some, like me, also made plans to travel to conferences and give talks. Gearing up to get ready for my first conference of …

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The Discipline Of History And The “Modern Consensus In The Historiography Of Mathematics”, Michael N. Fried Jul 2014

The Discipline Of History And The “Modern Consensus In The Historiography Of Mathematics”, Michael N. Fried

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

Teachers and students of mathematics often view history of mathematics as just mathematics as they know it, but in another form. This view is based on a misunderstanding of the nature of history of mathematics and the kind of knowledge it attempts to acquire. Unfortunately, it can also lead to a deep sense of disappointment with the history of mathematics itself, and, ultimately, a misunderstanding of the historical nature of mathematics. This kind of misunderstanding and the disappointment following from it--both raised to the level of resentment--run through the paper "A Critique of the Modern Consensus in the Historiography of …

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Why You Need A Summer Plan, Gizem Karaali May 2014

Why You Need A Summer Plan, Gizem Karaali

Pomona Faculty Publications and Research

In the last decade, for many times, I have tasted first-hand the end-of-summer blues I described above. I have spent many early spring months dreaming of all that I would be doing when the summer arrives, only to realize that it was already September and I had not much to show for for the months in between. I have also observed many of my peers going through similar things, and I just assumed for years that this was how it had to be. But then some time in the middle of the tenure track, I decided to try approaching my …

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The Fundamental Principle Of Productivity: What They Don't Teach You In Graduate School, Gizem Karaali Apr 2014

The Fundamental Principle Of Productivity: What They Don't Teach You In Graduate School, Gizem Karaali

Pomona Faculty Publications and Research

But through the years, I have read many books, ranging from self-help guides to creative writing manuals, attended workshops, frequented relevant websites, and reflected upon my own personal experiences. As a result, I have collected together a few ideas and tools on productivity and time management that have been working well for me. In this post I want to share with you the most basic of these principles, with the hope that it may assist you in your life, at whatever stage you are. Whether you are a graduate student, a postdoctoral researcher, a junior mathematician on the tenure track, …

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Steam: The Wave Of The Future Embedded In Ideals Of The Past, Sheena Ghanbari Feb 2014

Steam: The Wave Of The Future Embedded In Ideals Of The Past, Sheena Ghanbari

The STEAM Journal

As da Vinci acknowledges, there is an inherent interconnectivity between different academic disciplines and this concept is vital in comprehending how the arts play a meaningful role in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education. This piece reflects on the positive effects of integrating the arts in STEM.

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The Efficacy Of Mathematics Education, Eric Geimer Feb 2014

The Efficacy Of Mathematics Education, Eric Geimer

The STEAM Journal

Evidence supports the notion that mathematics education in the United States is inadequate. There is also evidence that mathematics education deficiencies extend internationally. The worldwide mathematics education deficit appears large enough that improving student performance in this educational problem area could yield great economic benefit. To improve the efficacy of mathematics education, education’s root problems must first be understood. Often supposed educational root problems are considered and contrasted against potential deficiencies of mathematics methodologies and curricula that are based on mainstream educational philosophies. The educational philosophies utilized to form early-grade mathematics methodologies and related curricula are judged to be the …

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Steam On Capitol Hill, Suzanne Bonamici, Aaron Schock Feb 2014

Steam On Capitol Hill, Suzanne Bonamici, Aaron Schock

The STEAM Journal

Our increasingly technology-driven economy demands a workforce that is proficient in both the concepts and techniques of STEM fields as well as in extending those skills into new applications and innovations. Currently, an impressive and diverse coalition of educators, art advocates, industry leaders, and STEM practitioners across the county are working to achieve that goal, bringing their ideas and advocacy to Capitol Hill.

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The Importance Of Being Creative, Dennis Callahan Feb 2014

The Importance Of Being Creative, Dennis Callahan

The STEAM Journal

Dennis Callahan is a graduate student in Materials Science at Caltech and also is an advisor to The STEAM Journal. He has created many types of scientific art, and his images have twice consecutively won first place at Caltech's "Art of Science" competition.

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What Is So Negative About Negative Exponents?, Geoffrey D. Dietz Jan 2014

What Is So Negative About Negative Exponents?, Geoffrey D. Dietz

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

While teaching college-level mathematics (from College Algebra to Calculus to Abstract Algebra), I have observed that students are often uncomfortable using negative exponents in calculations. I believe the fault partially lies in the manner in which negative exponents are taught in Algebra 1 or Algebra 2 courses, especially in rigid instructions always to write answers using only positive exponents. After reviewing a sample of algebra texts used in the United States over the last two centuries, it appears that while attitudes toward negative exponents have varied from author to author over time, the current trend is to declare explicitly that …

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Benjamin Banneker's Original Handwritten Document: Observations And Study Of The Cicada, Janet E. Barber, Asamoah Nkwanta Jan 2014

Benjamin Banneker's Original Handwritten Document: Observations And Study Of The Cicada, Janet E. Barber, Asamoah Nkwanta

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

Benjamin Banneker, farmer, mathematician, astronomer, and scientist, is known for his mathematical puzzles, ephemeris calculations, almanacs, his wooden clock, land surveying work, and famous letter on human rights. However, as a naturalist, his scientific and systematic observations of the cicadas are less known. In this paper we publicize Banneker’s naturalistic study of the seventeen-year periodic cycle of the cicada and make available the original handwritten document of his observations. We also introduce the audience of this journal to an intriguing natural problem involving prime numbers.

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Liberal Arts Inspired Mathematics: A Report Or How To Bring Cultural And Humanistic Aspects Of Mathematics To The Classroom As Effective Teaching And Learning Tools, Anders K H Bengtsson Jan 2014

Liberal Arts Inspired Mathematics: A Report Or How To Bring Cultural And Humanistic Aspects Of Mathematics To The Classroom As Effective Teaching And Learning Tools, Anders K H Bengtsson

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

This is the report of a project on ways of teaching university-level mathematics in a humanistic way. The main part of the project recounted here involved a journey to the United States during the fall term of 2012 to visit several liberal arts colleges in order to study and discuss mathematics teaching. Several themes that came up during my conversations at these colleges are discussed in the text: the invisibility of mathematics in everyday life, the role of calculus in American mathematics curricula, the "is algebra necessary?'' discussion, teaching mathematics as a language, the transfer problem in learning, and the …

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Using Topology To Explore Mathematics Education Reform, Carling Sugarman Jan 2014

Using Topology To Explore Mathematics Education Reform, Carling Sugarman

HMC Senior Theses

Mathematics education is a constant topic of conversation in the United States. Many attempts have been made historically to reform teaching methods and improve student results. Particularly, past ideas have emphasized problem-solving to make math feel more applicable and enjoyable. Many have additionally tackled the widespread problem of “math anxiety” by creating lessons that are more discussion-based than drill-based to shift focus from speed and accuracy. In my project, I explored past reform goals and some added goals concerning students' perceptions of mathematics. To do so, I created and tested a pilot workshop in topology, a creative and intuitive field, …

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