Teaching Seminar

Spring 2017

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

• Apr

  12
• Active Learning Lunch

  Group Discussion

  Time: 12:00 PM

• Mar

  29
• Discussion of linear algebra courses SM261, SM361, and SM461

  Group discussion

  Time: 12:00 PM

  View Abstract

  Joint meeting of the Majors Curriculum Committee and the Teaching Seminar to discuss the courses SM261 (Matrix Theory), SM361 (Intermediate Linear Algebra), and SM461 (Linear Algebra).

• Mar

  20
• How to Evaluate Teaching Contributions

  Group Discussion

  Time: 03:45 PM

• Mar

  08
• Writing Across the Curriculum

  Group Discussion with English Department

  Location: English Department Library

  Time: 12:00 PM

  View Abstract

  General discussion of topics related to mathematics and writing. This meeting may be especially interesting to instructors of SM291 (Fundamentals of Math) and capstone and honors students.

• Feb

  22
• Active Learning Lunch

  Group Discussion

  Location: Second conference room

  Time: 12:00 PM

  View Abstract

  Note that we meet in the 2nd conference room (not our usual location).

• Feb

  08
• Low Floor, High Ceiling

  Amy Ksir

  USNA

  Time: 12:00 PM

  View Abstract

  This week the teaching seminar will have two parts: 1) Low floor / high ceiling mathematical tasks. In other words, problems that are easy to get into, but allow a lot of scope for deep thinking. My current favorite is one I've used at the beginning of Calc III, and also at the beginning of the 3D / vectors / lines & planes part of Calc II: Let f(t) = (t-1,3-t). Sketch the points f(0), f(1), f(2), f(3), and f(4) in the plane. What do you notice? What problems have you used that have a low floor and a high ceiling? How could we lower the floor, or raise the ceiling, on tasks we ask our students to do? 2) If time permits, discussion of the article "What Does Active Learning Mean for Mathematicians?" which appeared in the February Notices of the AMS. Thanks to Peter Andre for pointing it out to me!

• Feb

  01
• Using Voting Questions in Class

  Scott Hottovy

  USNA

  Location: Conference Room

  Time: 12:00 PM

  View Abstract

  In this seminar I will talk about my use of voting questions in my SM221 class this semester. I was encouraged to start asking voting questions from a Project Next Seminar at the MAA MathFest in 2016. In the seminar I will give an example of a voting type question. I will also discuss some research behind voting questions, and give resources that you can use in your classes.

• Jan

  25
• Active Learning Lunch

  Group Discussion

  Location: Conference Room

  Time: 12:00 PM

  View Abstract

  We will talk about how to respond to students asking, "Why won't you just tell me the answer???" and similar issues.