MAA COMMITTEE ON COMPUTERS IN MATHEMATICS EDUCATION

FRIDAY, 12-JAN-2001
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

SALON 828, 8TH FLOOR, SHERATON

NEW ORLEAN, LA

 

AGENDA

 

I.                   Call to Order

II.                Attendance

III.                 Activities at current meeting

a.       On Line Assessment, Wednesday, 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m, organized by Earl D. Fife, Calvin College, and Lawrence S. Husch, University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Many mathematics courses at colleges and universities have a World Wide Web component. In addition, many faculty are encouraged and enticed to develop completely on line courses. The problems with assessment in Web-based mathematics courses involve those encountered in all disciplines as well as difficulties unique to mathematics. These include the rendering of mathematical notation, how students enter mathematical notation, the determination of whether an answer is correct, etc. The panelists invited for this session will discuss some of these problems, their solutions and the results. There will be ample time for questions and interchange with the panelists. The panelists include John Orr, University of Oklahoma; Gerardo A. Mendoza, Temple University; and Robby Robson, Oregon State University. The session is sponsored by the MAA Committee on Computers in Mathematics Education (CCIME).

 

b.      Minicourse:  The Global Classroom (Bessman and Quinney)

SOLD OUT - Minicourse #4: The Global Classroom: Using the Web as an interactive learning environment

Part A: Thursday, 8:00 a.m.­10:00 a.m.; Part B: Saturday, 8:00 a.m.­10:00 a.m., organized by Marcelle Bessman , Jacksonville University, and Douglas A. Quinney , Keele University, UK. The Global Classroom is a seamless learning environment that supports live audio-visual interaction and collaboration on commonly used mathematical or other software between students in a class in one location and visitor(s) and/or students at another. It is a medium for distance learning, virtual office hours, participation in remote seminars and colloquia, and collaborative research. Minicourse participants will have the opportunity to experience the Global Classroom as both visiting instructor and recipient student. Enrollment limit is 30; cost is $85.

 

c.      Contrituted Paper Sessions

 

(Neuerburg and Lang - both Project NExT fellows) 

 

IV.               Activities planned for MathFest 2001

a.      TECHNOLOGY BASED MODELING IN MATHEMATICS COURSES

Saturday afternoon

 

This session invites papers from any course where computers, calculators or other forms of technology are used as part of a project involving mathematical modeling. Papers that emphasize student projects are especially welcome. Possible questions that could be addressed in the paper session are: How do students choose or are assigned modeling projects? What role does technology play in building and analyzing the models? Is technology used in testing the model and interpreting the results? This paper session is sponsored by the Committee on Computers in Mathematics Education.

 

Rebecca E Hill (*)

E-mail: rehsma@ritvax.isc.rit.edu

 

Howard Lewis Penn, U.S. Naval Academy

 

b.      CREATIVE USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN TEACHING MATHEMATICS

Thursday and Friday afternoons

 

This session will focus on innovative uses of technology to support and enhance the learning of mathematics in all college courses.  In particular we are interested in the use of technology to support conceptual understanding and appreciation of the application of mathematical principles to solving real world problems.  The course is sponsored by the MAA Committee on Computers in Mathematics Education (CCIME).

 

Mary L. Platt (*)

E-mail: mplatt@salemstate.edu

 

Marcelle Bessman

Jackson University

 

c.      Special Session.  The Interactive Text, organized by Deeba and

White (status and abstract unavailable)

 

 

V.                 Discussion and Approval of proposals for Joint Meetings 2002

a.      Abstract #1

Title: Computational Mathematics in Linear Algebra and Differential

Equations

 

Description: Recent advances in computer algebra systems, spreadsheets and calculators facilitate numerical investigations of many meaningful problems in Linear Algebra and Differential Equations. Such investigations often lead to better students' understanding of mathematical concepts while empowering

them with the capabilities to analyze more "real world" problems. This session invites papers from these disciplines where these technologies are utilized.

 

Proposed by:

Elias Deeba (University of Houston-Downtown, Houston, Texas)

Rich Marchand (SUNY, Fredonia, New York)

Tim McDevitt ( Millersville University, Pennsylvania)

 

b.      Abstract #2

Title: Status of Interactive Mathematics Texts

 

Description: This session is intended to revive the interest in interactive texts that was originally initiated by the MAA through the IMTP and most recently through the WELCOME project. The session invites discussion papers and demonstrations that show the effectiveness of utilizing interactive texts in the mathematics instructions.

 

Proposed by:

James White

Elias Deeba (University of Houston-Downtown, Houston, Texas)

Dan Kalman

 

c.      Other abstracts

 

 

VI.              Preliminary discussion of proposals for MathFest 2002

 

VII.              Math DL – Please see Focus, January 2001, for the announcement.  There is also a session at JMM:

The Journal of Online Mathematics and Its Applications (JOMA), Wednesday, 2:15 p.m. - 3:45 p.m., organized by Lawrence C. Moore Jr. and David A. Smith, Duke University, and Thomas W. Roby, California State University Hayward. The MAA has been awarded a National Science Foundation grant to create in collaboration with Math Forum a digital library as part of the new National Science Digital Library (NSDL). One component of the library will be a new online MAA publication, the Journal of Online Mathematics and Its Applications (JOMA). The journal will be described, reviewing and submission procedures will be outlined, and articles from the first issue will be displayed. In addition to JOMA, the new library will provide listings of all commercial undergraduate mathematics materials -- in both paper and digital formats. Each listing will include reviews and comments, a link to a discussion group for users, and a link to the publisher's Web site. Panelists include Donald J. Albers; Lawrence C. Moore Jr.; Thomas W. Roby; and David A. Smith

 

VIII.            New "Notes" volume

Previous volumes:

MAA Notes #9, Computers and Mathematics: The Use of

Computers in Undergraduate Instruction, David Smith,  Jerry Porter, Carl Leinbach, and Ron Wenger, Editors (all of whom had leadership roles with CCIME at various times). 

                MAA Notes #19, Visualization in Teaching and Learning Mathematics, Steve Cunningham and Walter S. Zimmermann, Editors.

Comments so far:

1.  There is possibility of publishing the update to #9 in JOMA, so it could include dynamic examples. 

2.  Discussions needed to decide the most appropriate means of information dissemination.

3.  CCIME should think in terms of JOMA as a natural publication medium for materials that can benefit from online capabilities.  Contributors to CPS's could be encouraged to think about JOMA

4.  Elias Deeba has expressed interest in being the editor.

 

IX.                SIGMAA

Has CCIME ever considered pursuing a SIGMAA Charter for Technology in

Teaching Mathematics?  Do you think there would be an interest?  Based on the attendance we get at sessions and minicourses (not to mention at ICTCM), it could be successful.

 

X.                 Other

 

XI.              Adjourn