Teaching Seminar

Fall 2018

All talks are from 12:00-1:00 p.m. in the Seminar Room, unless otherwise specified.

• Nov

  14
• Brigade Honor Concept and Honor Staff Meeting for Faculty

  Brigade Honor Staff

  Time: 12:00 PM

  View Abstract

  A chance for new and old faculty and staff to meet with members of the Brigade Honor Staff. The Honor Staff is overseen by a commissioned officer, but the Honor System and Concept is run and enforced entirely by midshipmen, supported by the Commandant's Office. This will be a chance for new staff to learn about the honor concept and how the honor process works and for old staff to receive a refresher on how the process of the system works and their options for reporting violations.

• Oct

  31
• Capstone Discussion - Part 2

  Time: 12:00 PM

• Oct

  24
• Growth Mindset and Productive Failure

  Amy Ksir

  USNA

  Time: 12:00 PM

  View Abstract

  The phrases "growth mindset" and "fixed mindset" refer to beliefs about the nature of ability (for example, mathematical talent): is it something you're just born with (i.e., fixed)? Or is it something that anyone can grow, through hard work? I plan to show a brief video that explains the idea and its ramifications. We will then discuss some or all of the following topics: 1. Students' beliefs about themselves. When we hand back a graded assignment, do they read the comments and learn from them? Or just look at the grade? How can we promote a growth mindset in our students? 2. Our own beliefs, and society's messages, about the nature of mathematics and mathematical ability. What do we believe about our students, and how do we communicate those beliefs (intentionally or unintentionally)? 3. What do we believe about our own abilities? Do we have different beliefs about research vs. teaching? How can we promote a growth mindset for ourselves and each other?

• Oct

  10
• Capstone Discussion - Part 1

  Time: 12:00 PM

• Oct

  03
• Statistics Education at USAFA and USNA

  Matt Hawks

  USNA

  Time: 12:00 PM

  View Abstract

  This session provides a survey of curricular practices - both service and major - for statistics education at USNA and USAFA. Topics addressed include core requirements, modes of instruction, timing, breadth, depth, and software.

• Sep

  12
• Academic Advising

  Dick McGrath, Dave Ruth, Max Wakefield

  USNA

  Time: 12:00 PM

  View Abstract

  Our senior advisers will answer advising questions in preparation for preregistration.

• Aug

  29
• A Bank of Differential Equations Active Learning Materials

  Scott Hottovy

  USNA

  Time: 12:00 PM

  View Abstract

  Last year the Naval Academy had its first Differential Equations modeling team. The competition (a Student Competition in Undergraduate Differential Equations Modeling, SCUDEM) consisted of the 3 students, taking 7 days to model a situation from physics, biology, or social sciences. The problems are very open ended, and the students must construct an ODE. The results were presented at Frederick Community College last spring. During the competition, the coaches were exposed to the great resources at SIMIODE (Systematic Initiative for Modeling Investigations Opportunities with Differential Equations https://www.simiode.org/). This website has a wealth of refereed instructional material for all different sorts of differential equations topics. In this seminar, I will give an overview of SCUDEM and the formatting, including this years competition. Then I will show off SIMIODEs website and how to navigate it. We will finish by working one of the projects found on SIMIODEs website.