MAA Seaway Section Meeting

Jerome Epstein, Poyltechnic University, Brooklyn, NY, (banquet speaker)
"Hands-on Laboratory Mathematics -- A Bridge to Understanding"

Talk Title: "Knowing the Reality in Math Education: The Calculus Concept Inventory & The Basic Skills Diagnostic Test"
Abstract: I describe a decades long project to find out and deal with the real level, knowledge and cognition, of students in basic mathematics. I describe the foundations of two educational programs: First the Basic Skills Diagnostic Test, now 30 years old, and second the Calculus Concept Inventory, now about 8 years old. Both of these are carefully designed to measure Conceptual Understanding, in the language of the National Assessment of Educational Progress, as opposed to either procedural knowledge or problem solving. I describe in some detail the actual knowledge and skill level as shown by these tests in a population of some thousands of students from all over the U.S. But also Canada and more than 10 other countries. The efficacy of instruction as shown by these test instruments is dramatically dependent on teaching methodology, with “Interactive-Engagement” teaching methods more effective than lecture based teaching to an astonishing degree. This matches exactly the results from physics, known now for some decades.

Bio: Dr. Jerome Epstein has had an active career in mathematics and science education since earning his Ph.D. in Mathematical Physics at New York University. He has been on the faculty at Polytecnic University since 1998, with research interests in diagnostic testing, teacher education, and mathematical physics. He developed The Calculus Concept Inventory, an assessment of conceptual understanding of calculus, modeled after the Force Concept Inventory used in physics education. He is an accomplished musician, a former music director of the New York Revels, and the author of several songbooks of American folk songs and music for the High Holy Days.

John Ringland, (morning speaker)
Associate Professor of Mathematics, Director of UB CSUMS Program, University at Buffalo

Talk Title: "Suppressing by sustaining - refuges in pest control"
Abstract: The presence of refuges in a habitat - small patches that are anomalously benign or protective - can greatly influence the evolution of populations living there, sometimes in surprising ways. An economically important example is that leaving patches of agricultural cropland untreated with pesticide can allow farmers to control a pest population that carries a gene for immunity - without immunity ever rising to significant levels in the population. I'll illustrate and explain with some simple models of populations with diploid genetics.

Bio: John Ringland grew up in Belfast, N. Ireland, and obtained his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Texas at Austin. He is an Associate Professor of Mathematics at the University at Buffalo, with research interests in dynamical systems and computational mathematics. He served the UB Math Department for 6 years as Director of Undergraduate Studies, and for the past 4 years has been the director of an undergraduate research program funded by the CSUMS program of the National Science Foundation, which has provided intense year-long research opportunities for over 50 math majors. He is the recipient of the MAA Seaway Section 2012 Clarence Stephens Award for distinguished university teaching.

 

Doug Ensley, (morning speaker)
Professor of Mathematics, Shippensburg University

Title: "Invariants under Group Actions to Amaze Your Friends!".
Abstract: By understanding invariant properties of a group action (a.k.a., shuffling) on a deck of cards, a magician can find order where the spectator believes he or she has created disorder, often resulting in a surprising, perhaps even magical effect. This presentation will highlight some specific card tricks that illustrate the mathematical ideas of permutations and invariance.

Bio: Doug Ensley is Professor and Chair of Mathematics at Shippensburg University, where he has been on the faculty since 1993. His primary academic interests are in discrete mathematical topics and the use of technology in teaching mathematics. Recently, he co-founded with Barbara Kaskosz of the University of Rhode Island the website, www.flashandmath.com, which received the 2009 ICTCM Award for Excellence and Innovation with the Use of Technology in Collegiate Mathematics and which formed the basis for the book, "Flash and Math Applets: Learn by Example." Doug is currently PI on the NSF grant, "Mobile Math Apps," which will construct and assess a suite of precalculus apps for smartphones.

 

Jamar Pickreign, (Randolph lecture)
Associate Dean of Education, Associate Professor of Mathematics Education, Co-Director of Project PRIME

Title: We Teach Math...to People

Abstract: Mathematics Education deals with how people learn mathematics. This talk presents some of the challenges we face when teaching our subject matter and some ideas that can help us help students to learn.

Bio: Dr. Jamar Pickreign is a former grades 7 - 12 mathematics teacher in Central New York and was a P-8 mathematics education specialist as a member of the faculty of Rhode Island College. A SUNY Fredonia College of Education faculty member since 2001, he is currently Associate Dean of the College of Education. He is also co-Director of Project PRIME' (Professional Resources In Mathematics Education), a mathematics education professional development endeavor he started with colleagues Dr. Keary Howard and Dr. Bob Rogers of the SUNY Fredonia Mathematical Sciences Department. Dr. Pickreign is also an associate editor of the New York State Mathematics Teachers' Journal.