MAA Sectional Meetings  |  AMS Sectional Meetings  |  MAA National Meetings  |  AMS National Meetings |  Inquiries: meet@ams.org  | Search Here


2011 JMM, Jan 6 - 9, 2011, New Orleans Marriott, Sheraton New Orleans, Largest Annual Mathematics Meeting in the World

HOME
   Highlighted Speakers
PROGRAM
 ›› Prog List by Orgs
   Full Program
   Timetable
   Student Programs
COURSES/ANCILLARY WORKSHOPS
   AMS Short Courses
   MAA Short Course
   MAA Minicourses
   MAA Ancillary Workshops
COMMITTEES
DAYCARE
EXHIBITS
   Exhibits and Sponsors
   Call for Mathematical Art
EMPLOYMENT CENTER
GENERAL
   Deadlines
   Local Info/Events
   Miscellaneous
   Frequently Asked Questions
HOUSING
   Roommate Search Board
   How to Get a Room
   Hotel Information
   Map
   Registration/Housing Form
REGISTRATION
   How To Register
   Fees and Categories
   Registration/Housing Form
SOCIAL
   List of Events by Orgs
   Newcomers Guide
   Networking Opportunities
   Student Activities
TRAVEL
CONTACT US


Networking Opportunities

Wiki here
facebook Join Us on Facebook

Follow JointMath on Twitter

|

official airline of the meeting

MAA Panels, Posters, and Other Sessions

(For updated locations, click here; All locations are subject to change)

Thursday

National Science Foundation Programs Supporting Learning and Teaching in the Mathematical Sciences, organizers/panelists are Lee Zia, NSF DUE; Hank Warchall, NSF DMS; Dennis Davenport, NSF DUE; Stephanie Fitchett, NSF DUE; Thursday, 9:00 a.m. - 10:20 a.m. A number of NSF divisions offer a variety of grant programs that support innovations in learning and teaching in the mathematical sciences. These programs will be discussed along with examples of successful projects. Anticipated budget highlights and other new initiatives for the next fiscal year will also be presented.

For MAA Student Chapter Advisors: Dynamic Answers to Your Questions, organized by Jacqueline Jensen, Sam Houston State University; Robert W. Vallin, Slippery Rock University, and Joyati Debnath, Winona State University; Thursday, 9:00 a.m. - 10:20 a.m. We all want the best for our student chapters: An excited and enthused group of involved students, a resource to find meetings for students to attend, a place to exchange ideas for events, and an understanding of what the MAA can do for your group. Panelists Bob Anastasio, MAA; Kay Somers, Moravian College; and Robert Vallin, Slippery Rock University, will answer questions that have come up already involving the new changes in student memberships, the MAA's Math Club in a Box website, and Math Horizons subscriptions. The panel will also take on any and all questions you have about making your student chapter the best possible. Sponsored by the MAA Committee on Undergraduate Student Activities and Chapters.

Mathematical Outreach Programs for Underrepresented Populations Poster Session, organized by Betsy Yanik, Emporia State University; Thursday, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m This session is designed to highlight special programs which have been developed to encourage students from underrepresented populations to maintain an interest in and commitment to succeeding in mathematics. These programs might include such activities as after school clubs, weekend activities, one-day conferences, mentoring opportunities, summer camps, etc. In particular, recipients of Tensor and Summa grants will find this an ideal venue in which to share the progress of their funded projects. We encourage everyone involved with offering outreach activities to consider submitting an abstract to the session organizer, Betsy Yanik, eyanik@emporia.edu. Sponsored by the Women and Mathematics Network (a subcommittee on the MAA Committee on the Participation of Women).

Reporting Progress: A Minisymposium of Projects from the NSF Course, Curriculum, and Laboratory Improvement Program, organized by Dennis Davenport, Stephanie Fitchett, and Lee Zia, NSF DUE; Thursday, 2:15 p.m. - 3:35 p.m. In this session selected projects from the NSF Division of Undergraduate Education's Course, Curriculum, and Laboratory Improvement Program will provide project updates and present major outcomes. A moderated discussion of common development and implementation issues will follow.

How to Interview for a Job in the Mathematical Sciences, organized by David Manderscheid, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.; Thursday, 2:15 p.m. - 3:35 p.m. This session is aimed at Ph.D. students and at recent graduates. Panelists Michael Axtell, College of St. Thomas; Allen Butler, Daniel H. Wagner Associates, Inc.; James Freeman, Cornell College; David Manderscheid; and Sarah Ann Stewart, Belmont University, will give an overview of the employment process with ample opportunity for participants to ask questions. The emphasis will be on the portion of the employment process from interviewing through accepting an offer. Questions that will be addressed include: How do employers conduct interviews? How can you best prepare for these interviews? How do employers choose to whom they will make offers? How do you negotiate once you have an offer? How do you choose among competing offers? Sponsored by the MAA Committee on Graduate Students and The Young Mathematicians Network.

Top of page

Transition from High School to College: Should There Be an Alternate to Calculus?, organized by Gail Burrill, Michigan State University; Thursday, 3:50 p.m. - 5:10 p.m. Are we losing potential STEM students because they are reluctant to take calculus as a first course in mathematics or because they have already taken calculus? Panelists Danny Kaplan, Macalester College; Gregory D. Foley, Ohio University; Thomas R. Butts, University of Texas at Dallas; Al Cuoco, Education Development Center; Michael Shaughnessy, Portland State University, NCTM president; and Gail Burrill, will discuss issues related to students who slip under the STEM recruitment radar because no one ever told them math had alternatives to calculus or that they might consider STEM careers. Panelists will offer some possible alternatives including linear algebra, dynamic systems, and advanced quantitative reasoning, and open the floor for input from the audience related to the questions: 1) Should alternative paths be created and why? 2) If so, what mathematical territory seems most promising for such paths? And 3) What is the potential impact of the Common Core Standards on high school graduates, mathematical knowledge and are the current entry-level courses for potential STEM majors the best ones for all students with this knowledge? Sponsored by the MAA/NCTM Mutual Concerns Committee.

Young Mathematicians Network/Project NExT Poster Session, organized by Michael Axtell, University of St. Thomas, and Kim Roth, Juniata College; Thursday, 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Project NExT and the Young Mathematician's Network invite submissions of abstracts for a poster session to be held on Thursday January 6, 2011, 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. in Napoleon A1-A3, 3rd floor Sheraton at the Joint Mathematics Meetings in New Orleans.  See below or click here for a pdf version of these instructions.

The poster size will be 48" by 36"; it is best to have the posters 36" high. Posters and materials for posting pages on the posters will be provided on-site. We expect to accept about forty posters from different areas within the mathematical sciences. 

This poster session is intended to highlight the research activities, both mathematical and pedagogical, of recent or future PhD's in mathematics and related fields. The organizers seek to provide an open venue for people who are near completion, or have finished their graduate studies in the last 5 years to present their work and make connections with other same-stage professionals, in much the same spirit as the YMN and Project NExT. 

Should you have a special requirement involving a computer hook-up, please let us know and we will check to see if it may be accommodated. 

Our poster sessions the past fifteen years were a great success. Visitors to the session each year were numerous, and included many prospective employers. This session provides an excellent way to showcase one's work in a relaxed, informal environment. 

The deadline for final consideration is December 15, 2010. Preference will be given to those who earned a Ph.D. since 2005; please include with your submission when and where you received your Ph.D., or indicate when you expect to receive it, along with the institution you are at presently. Please submit your abstract via e-mail, not an attachment. If it includes mathematical formulas, please submit it in basic LaTeX or TeX format. Submissions will be acknowledged quickly by e-mail. Accepted abstracts will be posted at http://www.youngmath.net/Documents/2011/Posters/ before the Joint Meetings.

If you are interested in participating, submit copies of your abstract and information  via email to: 

Prof. Mike Axtell
Department of Mathematics, OSS 201
University of St. Thomas
2115 Summit Ave St. Paul, MN 55105 
Phone: (651) 962-5495
e-mail: maxtell@stthomas.edu 

AND 

Prof. Kim Roth
Dept. of Mathematics A302 Brumbaugh Academic Center
Juniata College
1700 Moore Street Huntington, PA 16652
Phone: (814) 641-3593
e-mail: roth@juniata.edu 

Current Issues in Actuarial Science Education, organized by Robert Buck, Slippery Rock University; Bettye Anne Case, Florida State University; Kevin Charlwood, Washburn University; and Steve Paris, Florida State University; Thursday, 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. A diverse group of working actuaries, publishers, and actuarial educators bring new information from professional society committees, specialized publications initiatives, and academic department experience. The pace of change is faster than in most academic areas, and the session helps faculty adjust as quickly as possible not only to educate their students generally, but give the students good professional information and to determine curriculum change that may be necessary. Panelists include Steve Paris, Florida State University; Bettye Anne Case, Florida State University; and Robert Buck, Slippery Rock University.

There will also be a discussion about organizing an MAA Special Interest Group on Actuarial Education. Sponsored by the Actuarial Educators, Society of Actuaries, Casualty Actuarial Society, and ACTEX Publications.

Top of page

Friday

Career Options for Undergraduate Mathematics Majors, organized by Ralucca Gera, Naval Postgraduate School, and Tom Wakefield, Youngstown State University; Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 10:20 a.m. There are a vast amount of options available for students in today's global market. A degree in mathematics continues to be a desirable asset, yet a common question for students to ask is "what options are available for someone with a math degree?" This panel showcases several options for career paths for students with an undergraduate degree in mathematics. Panelists Emily Kessler, Society of Actuaries; Erin E. Corman, National Security Agency; Lee Seitelman, University of Connecticut; David Manderscheid, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; and Fred Kluempen, Educational Testing Service, will speak on their own experiences of finding a job and answer questions from the audience. Sponsored by the MAA and the Young Mathematicians Network.

MAA Session for Chairs: The New MAA Curriculum Guide--What Should It Be?, organized by Daniel Maki, Indiana University, and Catherine M. Murphy, Purdue University Calumet; Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 10:20 a.m. The current Curriculum Guide appeared in 2004. CUPM is soliciting suggestions for the next guide. This is your opportunity as chairs of mathematics departments to influence the content and structure of the guide so it will be useful for you as you review and possibly change curricula to meet the needs of tomorrow's students. Panelists Carol Schumacher, Kenyon College, and James Sellers, Pennsylvania State University, two CUPM members, will lead this session. You will learn about some major themes that are under consideration, and have the opportunity to participate in discussions of what should be kept, what needs to be improved, what is missing and should be added. Some specific questions to think about are: (1) Does your department use the 2004 Curriculum Guide in such areas as curriculum planning, outcomes assessment, self-study, and evaluation? (2) Is there some aspect of the Curriculum Guide you find especially useful? If so, what? Is there some way in which it might be improved so as to be more helpful? (3) Is there something you really hope is considered for inclusion in the new guide that wasn't in the previous guide? For reference the current guide is at www.maa.org/cupm/curr_guide.html.

Professional Science Masters Degrees in the Mathematical Sciences Poster Session, organized by David Manderscheid, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Friday, 10:00 a.m. - noon. Professional Science Masters (PSM) Degree programs are a fast growing segment of academe. PSM programs provide students training in an area of science and also business with an eye toward employment in government or industry. The MAA has appointed a task force to identify the MAA niche in PSM programs. The purpose of this poster session is for existing programs to provide information about their programs and their success. It is anticipated that both undergraduate students interested in possibly enrolling in a PSM program and faculty interested in possibly starting a PSM program will attend. Sponsored by the MAA Committee on Graduate Students.

Top of page

Proposal Writing Workshop for Grant Applications to the NSF Division of Undergraduate Education, presented by Dennis Davenport, Stephanie Fitchett, and Lee L. Zia, Division of Undergraduate Education, National Science Foundation; Friday, 10:35 a.m. - 11:55 a.m. The presenters will describe the general NSF grant proposal process and consider particular details relevant to programs in the Division of Undergraduate Education. This interactive session will feature a mock panel review using a series of short excerpts from sample proposals.

Writing the History of the MAA's First 100 Years, organized by Victor J. Katz, University of the District of Columbia, and Janet Beery, University of Redlands; Friday, 10:35 a.m. - 11:55 a.m. The centennial of the MAA will occur in 2015. In preparation for that event, the MAA plans to record various aspects of its history, to appear either in electronic or in hardcopy form as articles or books. Two of the panelists, Mary Gray, American University, and Warren Page, New York City College of Technology, CUNY, have already written articles on the history of women and journals in the MAA, respectively, while a third, David Zitarelli, Temple University, has written the history of his section. They will discuss their procedures for preparing those histories. The fourth panelist, Carol Mead, Archives of American Mathematics, is the archivist in charge of the major collection of MAA records and will help prospective researchers learn what is available and how to access it. We hope that those attending this panel session will be motivated to do their own research, either at the section or national level, to help us complete the history of the MAA. Sponsored by the Centennial History Subcommittee of the MAA Centennial Committee.

Assessment of Learning in an Age of Technology, organized by Michael B. Scott, California State University Monterey Bay, and Jason Aubrey, University of Missouri; Friday, 1:00 p.m. - 1:20 p.m. Mathematics educators often use a variety of technologies to enhance student learning. For example, technology can provide opportunity for students to investigate many examples of a particular topic more easily or enhance visualization of a difficult concept. As technology becomes more integrated into the learning experiences of students, one should expect that technology would become more integrated into assessment practices. Moreover, as teaching mathematics using technology evolves, it is natural to ask whether the mathematics being assessed also changes. This session is designed to provide practical strategies and best practices for assessment of learning when teaching with technology. Panelists Andrew G. Bennett, Kansas State University; Gavin LaRose, University of Michigan; and Alison Marble Ahlgren, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, will describe their experiences integrating assessment of mathematical proficiency with technology other than paper and pencil. Sponsored by the Committee on Technologies in Mathematics Education (CTiME) and WEB SIGMAA.

Good Intentions Are Necessary but Not Sufficient: Steps Toward Best Practices in Mentoring Underrepresented Students, organized by James H. Curry, University of Colorado; Friday, 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Do you have an idea for a program that will bring underrepresented students into mathematics? Are you interested in developing a proposal for an NSF Division of Mathematical Sciences workforce program, such as Mentoring through Critical Transition Points (MCTP), Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU), Interdisciplinary Training for Undergraduates in Biological and Mathematical Sciences (UBM), or another project under the unsolicited workforce proposal format? This panel discussion will be led by NSF-supported principal investigators who developed programs having strong mentoring components and who are experienced in working with undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral scholars. Panelists Carlos Castillo-Chavez, Arizona State University; A. G. (Loek) Helminck, North Carolina State University; Rhonda Hughes, Bryn Mawr College; Philip Kutzko, The University of Iowa; and M. Helena Noronha, California State University, Northridge, will discuss project design issues, both successes and failures, they encountered when developing mentoring and other program support structures for underrepresented students. Representatives from the NSF DMS workforce program will be in attendance.

Top of page

Report from the International Conference on Teaching Statistics: A World View of Statistics Education, organized by John McKenzie, Babson College, and Michael A. Posner, Villanova University; Friday, 1:00 p.m. - 2:20 p.m. Panelists Rob Carver, Stonehill College; Katherine Halvorsen, Smith College; John McKenzie; Milo Schield, Augsburg College; and Gail Burrill, Michigan State University, will discuss the current state of statistical education around the world. Each of the panelists is actively involved in statistics education and recently attended the International Conference on Teaching Statistics in Slovenia. They will formally address a number of questions concerning statistical education at all levels (primary and secondary schools, colleges and universities, the workplace). Each will identify differences in statistical instruction among countries and provide reasons for such differences. The most appropriate type of statistics--statistical literacy, applied statistics, and mathematical statistics for different countries--will be discussed. Each panelist will explain what other countries can learn from the way statistics is taught in the United States and what the United States can learn from other countries. The numerous advantages of attending an international conference will also be presented. At the end of session there will be ample time for audience participation. Sponsored by the SIGMAA Stat Ed and the ASA/MAA Joint Committee on Undergraduate Statistics.

Projects Supported by the NSF Division of Undergraduate Education Poster Session, organized by Jon W. Scott, Montgomery Community College; Friday, 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. This session will feature principal investigators (PIs) presenting progress and outcomes from various NSF funded projects in the Division of Undergraduate Education. The poster session format will permit ample opportunity for attendees to engage in small group discussions with the PIs and to network with each other. Information about presenters and their projects will appear in the program.

CHANGE - Mathematical Culture and Mathematical Life, organized by Reuben Hersh and Vera John-Steiner, University of New Mexico; Friday, 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. The emotional, social, and political sides of mathematical life are vitally important yet seldom discussed publicly. How do people survive the stresses of mathematical life? What does it mean, personally, to be a "mathematician" nowadays? In what ways are our personalities and problems "the same" as everybody else's, and in what ways are they very different? How is mathematical life different from, and how is it similar to other lives in "academia"? How are our mathematical lives affected by our gender or our ethnicity? Panelists include Lenore Blum, Carnegie-Mellon University; Steven Rosecrans, Tulane University; Nathaniel Dean, Texas State University San Marcos; Reuben Hersh; and Gizem Karaali, Pomona College.

Top of page

Creating/Improving the Biomathematics/Biostatistics Course, organized by Michael A. Posner, Villanova University; Raina Robeva, Sweet Briar College; and Holly Gaff, Old Dominion University; Friday, 2:35 p.m. - 3:55 p.m. With the growing demand for quantitatively skilled biologists, the creation of new and update of previously established biomathematics, biostatistics, or bioinformatics courses is a popular topic and necessary discussion. The recommendations of the Bio 2010 report have proposed important modifications to these curricula. The faculty on this panel, including Pam Ryan, Truman University; Fred Adler, University of Utah; Laurie Heyer, Davidson College; and Deborah Nolan, University of California, Berkeley, have all been involved on their campuses in shaping these courses. They will address questions like: What does this course look like? What topics are covered? What are the best practices? Who are the target audiences? What are the challenges of creating, marketing, getting such a course approved? What are the future directions of these courses? Ample time will be left for participant discussion. Sponsored by SIGMAA BIO, SIGMAA Stat Ed, and the ASA/MAA Joint Committee on Undergraduate Statistics.

Calculus Reform: 25 Years Later, organized by Steve Benson, Lesley University; Joe Yanik, Emporia State University; Marilyn Carlson, Arizona State University; and Ellen Kirkman, Wake Forest University; Friday, 2:35 p.m. - 3:55 p.m. Twenty-five years ago, the Tulane Conference "kicked off" a nationwide discussion about the teaching of calculus that led to a dramatic, sometimes contentious, re-evaluation of the ways in which calculus was taught, a discussion that continues to this day. Our panelists, Steve Benson; Tom Dick, Oregon State University; Deborah Hughes Hallett, University of Arizona; Judy Holdener, Kenyon College; and Paul Zorn, St. Olaf College, an eclectic combination of "Tulane" participants, curriculum developers and adapters, and observers of, and participants in, the calculus reform movement, will look back on the last 25 years and share their personal reflections, providing important historical perspective and insight for those who might wish to make similar contributions to the teaching and learning of mathematics (calculus and otherwise). Rather than to promote or (re)debate the issues, or bring back the artificial "us vs. them" distinctions, we wish to look back on the last 25 years and use these lessons to inform the next 25 years (and beyond) of mathematics teaching. Sponsored by the MAA Committee on the Teaching of Undergraduate Mathematics.

Mathematicians and Teachers: Professional Development and Outreach Groups, organized by James King, University of Washington and Gail Burrill, Michigan State University; Friday, 2:35 p.m. - 3:55 p.m. The Institute for Advanced Study's Park City Mathematics Institute (PCMI) is committed to networking mathematicians and teachers. This commitment has resulted in the creation of Professional Development and Outreach (PDO) Groups, organized by mathematicians for local secondary teachers. These programs include weeklong conferences, Mathematics at the Jersey Shore workshops, math days for high school students, and lesson-designing sessions with teachers and preservice students. Panelists Darryl Yong, Harvey Mudd University; Brian Hopkins, St. Peters College; James King; Harvey Keynes, University of Minnesota; and Brynja Kohler, Utah State University, will describe how their groups are organized, the impact on the teachers in their groups, and issues that emerge in making their PDO groups valuable and continuing learning experiences for the teachers. They will engage the audience in discussing the larger networking picture for mathematicians and teachers and offer suggestions for those interested in starting their own PDO group.

Reunion for Those Interested in Refocusing College Algebra, organized by Donald B. Small, U. S. Military Academy, Friday, 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.  A national movement to refocus college algebra has developed over the past ten years. Refocus courses emphasize modeling in the problem-solving sense, elementary data analysis, and interpreting graphs. A familiar exercise is to plot given data, fit a curve to the scatterplot, and use the resulting function for predictive purposes. Pedagogically, refocused courses are student-centered and emphasize group work. Developing communication skills and self-confidence are important characteristics of these courses.  The reunion will consist of a two-hour discussion/presentation of refocusing college algebra. Several people who are active in the movement will describe their activities.  In order to ensure adequate space, persons planning on attending should contact Don Small at don-small@usma.edu.

Top of page

Saturday

The Benefits of Hosting a Regional Undergraduate Mathematics Conference, organized by Doug Faires, Youngstown State University, Saturday, 9:00 a.m. - 10:20 a.m. There are currently more than 40 conferences in the United States that receive funding to host conferences under the Regional Undergraduate Mathematics Conferences (RUMC) grant DMS-0846477. The intent of the grant is to have a sufficient number of these conferences so that every U.S. student can attend a mathematics conference without extensive travel or outlay of funds. Many regions in the country now offer this opportunity, either through this program, the MAA sections, or independently run conferences. However there are still regions with large student populations that have not taken advantage of this opportunity. The panel will include the grant PI and four other faculty members. All have directed conferences with funds awarded by the grant. Two of the panelists will be directors of multiple conferences who can tell how the conference has progressed from year to year. The remaining two will be relatively new to the program and give their impressions about what to consider when first designing and hosting a conference. Panelists Doug Faires; Kendra Kilpatrick, Pepperdine University; Laura Taalman, James Madison University; and Nathan Gibson, Oregon State University, will give advice for those interested in becoming part of the program, and describe the benefits that undergraduate conferences provide to both students and the faculty involved in the program

Top of page

Utilizing NSF ADVANCE to Promote the Success of Women Faculty in Mathematics, organized by Jenna Carpenter, Louisiana Tech University; Saturday, 9:00 a.m. - 10:20 a.m. This panel features four funded NSF ADVANCE Programs and their impact on promoting the success of women faculty in mathematics. Panelists Judith Silver, Marshall University; Brooke Shipley, University of Illinois at Chicago; Brenda Johnson, Union College; and Jenna Carpenter, are PIs/co-PIs on an existing NSF ADVANCE Project. Small, medium, and large institutions are represented, as well as both larger institutional transformation and smaller adaptation and implementation projects. The goals of this session are to 1) increase awareness of NSF ADVANCE in the mathematics community at large; 2) educate mathematics departments about key issues impacting the success of women faculty; and 3) disseminate effective strategies to address these issues and promote faculty success. Topics to be addressed include isolation, high service and teaching loads, climate issues, faculty hiring, dual career issues, networking, university policies, mentoring, professional development, and promotion of research. Each panelist will highlight key aspects of their program, followed by a general question-and-answer session. Materials about ADVANCE and participating projects will be available, as well.

Preparation and Recruitment of Future Mathematics Graduate Students, organized by Amy Cohen, Rutgers University; Saturday, 1:00 p.m. - 2:20 p.m. A U.S. mathematics major typically studies mathematics about half-time for two-and-a-half years after calculus. A mathematics student outside the U.S. typically studies mathematics full-time for three to five years after calculus before applying to a U.S. doctoral program. Graduate admissions committees often find it easier to see differences in prior achievement than to discern differences in potential for future achievement. Panelists Dennis Davenport, National Science Foundation; Phil Kutzko, University of Iowa; Ruth Haas, Smith College; and Ulrica Wilson, Morehouse College, will stimulate discussion of what is needed, what is already being done, and what more can be done to increase the number, diversity, and success of undergraduate mathematics students in the U.S. going on to graduate study. Speakers will have experience with graduate programs in pure and applied mathematics, with undergraduate programs, and with transition programs. Sponsored by the MAA Committee on the Undergraduate Program in Mathematics.

Teaching Statistics Online, organized by Brian Gill, Seattle Pacific University; Saturday, 1:00 p.m. - 2:20 p.m. Recent years have seen a rapid expansion of the number of courses taught online, and current budget pressures are leading more institutions to consider expanding their online course offerings. However, effective instruction online requires a very substantial time commitment from faculty, and involves much more than simply taking the materials from a traditional classroom course and making them available online. Panelists Michelle Everson, University of Minnesota; Patricia Humphrey, Georgia Southern University; Michael Miner, American Public University; and Sue Schou, Idaho State University, bring together statistics instructors and education researchers with experience teaching online and hybrid courses to share advice and resources for teaching statistics online. The American Statistical Association's Guidelines for Assessment and Instruction in Statistics Education (GAISE) Report strongly emphasizes the importance of fostering active learning in the "classroom"; panelists will address strategies for implementing this guideline in an online learning environment. Sponsored by SIGMAA Stat Ed.

ADDED - Math Wrangle Exhibition, presented by Steven R. Dunbar, MAA Director of Competitions, Saturday, 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. A "Mathematical Wrangle" occurs between two teams of students. From a pool of problems the judge draws eight problems. The solution to each problem will involve an explanation. At each turn of the Wrangle a team chooses a problem from among those that have yet to be presented and challenges the opposing team to present a solution. The solution may be challenged, and the judge awards a score based on the quality and correctness of the score. This is a new type of competition: a combination of team problem solving, presentation, and analysis. Sponsored by the SIGMAA MCST

The Role of Mentoring in Undergraduate Mathematics: Promising Recruitment and Retention Strategies, organized by William Velez, University of Arizona; Sylvia Bozeman, Spelman College; and Ken Millett, University of California-Santa Barbara; Saturday, 2:35 p.m. - 3:55 p.m. Without question, the United States can boast of the best system of higher education in the world. But that does not mean that this system is perfect. It has failed to meet our nation's requirements for graduates trained in the STEM disciplines, a fact that is witnessed by our need to import large numbers of scientists and engineers. Tremendous mathematical talent exists in our population. The challenge to mathematicians is to engage that population in mathematical studies and to nurture their continued mathematical development. Many minority organizations and minority mathematicians have accepted this challenge, with the end result of increasing minority participation in mathematics-based fields. It is clear that programs aimed at minority populations will work with all students. Panelists Sylvia Bozeman; Michelle Craddock, U.S. Military Academy; Rebecca Garcia, Sam Houston State University; and William Velez will highlight some of the most successful efforts that have served to increase minority participation. Sponsored by MAA Committee on Minority Participation, Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS), and National Association of Mathematicians (NAM).

Inquiry-Proof Instructional Techniques, organized by Tom Roby, University of Connecticut; Dev Sinha, University of Oregon; Glenn Stevens, Boston University; and Ravi Vakil, Stanford University; Saturday, 2:35 p.m. - 3:55 p.m. There is a wealth of refined teaching techniques which emphasize mathematical inquiry, but relatively little awareness of them even among practitioners with similar philosophies but different methods. This situation lies in contrast with the physical sciences, where scientific inquiry including Web demonstrations and lab experiences is becoming ingrained in the core of the undergraduate curriculum. We bring together panelists, including Keith Conrad, University of Connecticut; Ken Ono, University of Wisconsin; David Pengelley, New Mexico State University; Margaret Robinson, Mount Holyoke College; Brad Shelton, University of Oregon; and Michael Starbird, University of Texas, who have incorporated inquiry in their undergraduate classes in different ways, including experience-first methods, the discovery method, computer-based experimentation, worksheets, and working from historical texts. We will compare these techniques with standard lecture format and with each other, addressing what students retain, when such techniques are useful, and how they fit into the curriculum as a whole. By highlighting these approaches together we hope audience members reflect on which aspects of these approaches might help improve their own teaching, rather than focusing on what they like or do not like about a particular method.

Derivative vs. Integral: The Final Slapdown, organized by Colin Adams and Thomas Garrity, Williams College; Saturday, 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Ever since Newton and Leibniz, the derivative and the integral have been locked in mortal combat, doing whatever it takes to try to prove which is the better, and in the process tearing equations asunder and leaving broken and shattered math symbols in their wake. Tonight we determine once and for all who will be crowned the victor, derivative or integral. And mathematics can then revert once again to the bucolic Garden of Eden, where students frolic with equations in peace and harmony.

Top of page

Sunday

Publishing Mathematics on the Web, organized by Thomas E. Leathrum, Jacksonville State University; Sunday, 9:00 a.m. - 10:20 a.m. Emerging technologies, such as browser support for MathML, are changing the ways authors will be expected to present mathematical material in online documents. As academic journals move toward online formats, and as libraries and archives digitize existing content, online presentation will become essential to the profession. Many useful tools have become available recently, including visual editors and simplified embedded mark-up. These tools raise a host of new issues, though, such as how modern online search engines can find math content. Panelists Robert Miner, Design Science; Thomas E. Leathrum; and David Ruddy, Project Euclid/Cornell University, will provide a discussion of available and emerging tools, such as legacy format conversion, authoring tools for current standards including dynamic Web pages, and future standards for presenting mathematics in online documents. The panel will be moderated by Lawrence Moore, Duke University. Sponsored by the MAA Committee on Technology in Math Education (CTiME)

Maximize your Career Potential!, organized by Rachel Esselstein, California State University Monterey Bay, and David Manderscheid, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Sunday, 9:00 a.m. - 10:20 a.m. The past few years have been some of the hardest for finding and keeping employment. What can you do to make yourself a stronger job candidate? Speakers Geir Helleloid, Acuitus Inc., and Aba Mbrika, Bowdoin College, will focus on advice for current graduate students and postdocs who are at least one year away from applying for jobs. We will discuss what you can do NOW to strengthen your application. Our panelists will address topics such as what you can do in the classes you are teaching and in your research to help you stand out amongst the crowd. We will also discuss internship opportunities that can open new doors and provide valuable work experience. If you are planning on applying for a job in the next few years, you won't want to miss this panel! Sponsored by the MAA Committee on Graduate Students and the Young Mathematicians Network.

NEW! Between the Folds, Great Ballroom A-C, 5th Floor, Sheraton, Sunday, 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. All participants are invited to this documentary film presentation that explores the science, art, creativity, and ingenuity of many of the world’s best paper folders. This award-winning film profiles ten artists and theoretical scientists who fuse mathematics and sculpture in the medium of origami.  The works—ranging from abstract sculptures to detailed animals—are truly stunning. DVDs of the film will be available for sale at the AMS and MAA booths in the Exhibit Hall until noon on Sunday.  Cosponsored by the AMS and the MAA.

Top of page