Thursday Opening Session: What a Difference Five Minutes Makes

Keynote Speaker:
Pat McKeague

Pat McKeague will officially open the 33rd Annual AMATYC Conference by challenging us to share with our students the things we find interesting in, and around, mathematics, and to invite them to consider careers as community college mathematics instructors. Even with too many topics to cover, and too little time to cover them, he will ask us to reserve five minutes of class time to accomplish these goals. When we share what we like about mathematics, and invite students to join our profession, we elevate our relationship with students and generate positive attitudes toward mathematics. And it can all happen just five minutes at a time.

Pat earned his B.A. in Mathematics from California State University, Northridge and his M.S. in Mathematics from Brigham Young University. He started his teaching career in 1970 at Lompoc High School in Lompoc, California. In 1973 he became a full-time instructor at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, California. During his 37-year career he has taught elementary school and high school, at the community college and at the California state university. He is sold on the community college system of education and is at his best when he is teaching there. An accomplished and successful author, Pat is very active in the mathematics community and is a popular speaker at national and regional conferences across the country. He has been a member of AMATYC for over 30 years and was on the writing team for the AMATYC Beyond Crossroads project.

Saturday Awards Breakfast Session:
My Year with NUMB3RS: Mathematics Goes to Hollywood

Keynote Speaker:
Dan Kennedy

Dan Kennedy will delight you with the description of his inroads into popular culture. He will share what he has made of the teachable moments resulting from his work. Dan will delight you with this light and digestible talk, blending information and a little mathematics for an entertaining morning.

Dan received his undergraduate degree at the College of the Holy Cross, earned Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Mathematics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Since 1973, he has taught mathematics at the Baylor School in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he holds the Cartter Lupton Distinguished Professorship. His involvement with Advanced Placement Calculus as a workshop consultant, table leader, and an exam leader led to the AP Calculus Test Development Committee in 1986. In 1990 he became the first high school teacher in 35 years to chair that committee. He is a co-author or series author of textbooks in precalculus, calculus, algebra and geometry.

A Presidential Award for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching winner in 1995, Dan has served on the executive committee of the Mathematical Sciences Education Board and on the Board of Governors of the Mathematical Association of America. His articles on mathematics and education reform have appeared in the Mathematics Teacher, the American
Mathematical Monthly, and the College Mathematics Journal.

Infinity Bottles of Beer on the Wall or What’s So Funny About Mathematics?

FEATURED SPEAKERS:
Lew Lefton

Lew Lefton warns us right up front that portions of his presentation are suitable only for mathematically mature audiences! According to Lew, “Everyone needs a laugh!” Amidst the entertainment, you will likely find jokes that you will steal for use in your own classroom! Lew uses his experiences as a graduate student, professional mathematician, and a college professor to pack hours of entertainment into 50 minutes.

Lew received his Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Illinois in 1987. After visiting and entertaining for two years at the University of California at Riverside, he taught at the University of New Orleans. In 1999, Lew moved to Georgia Tech where he is currently the Information Technology Director for the School of Mathematics and the College of Sciences. Lefton’s research interests are in scientific computing and applied mathematics. He is the author of many articles and the textbook Introduction to Parallel and Vector Scientific Computing. Lew has performed at dozens of clubs around the country including the Improv, the Laugh Factory, Comedy Gumbo, and Zanies in addition to gigs at the University of Illinois, University of California at Riverside, Georgia Tech, Loyola University, and Harvey Mudd College. Don’t miss the chance to see Lew “prove” that he is funny.

	The Derivative as a Linear Transformation
	Featured Speaker: Wayne Roberts
	Saturday, November 3, 10:45 am

Wayne Roberts will delight you with topics from linear algebra to show the derivative as a linear transformation, rather than having the theorem drop from heaven as it usually wants to do. Compare this with the presentation in most multivariate calculus books that uses second partial derivatives to classify the critical points of a function in two variables.

Wayne attended Morton Junior College (as it was called in those days) before attending Illinois Institute of Technology. After earning his M.S. at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, he returned to teach at Morton Junior College for four years. After earning his doctoral degree at Wisconsin, he arrived at Macalester College where he taught mathematics, chaired the department, and ultimately served as Provost during his 40 years on the faculty. He was a leader in the national effort to improve the teaching of calculus in the U.S., and is best known in Minnesota as the founder and Director of the Minnesota State High School Mathematics League. Don’t miss this presentation by one of our two-year college graduates!

	MAC & QL: Many Interpretations and Multiple Collegiate Strategies
	Symposium Speaker Bernie Madison
	Friday, November 2, 10:30 am

This symposium consists of three separate events, all scheduled in the Center Forum in the Millennium Hotel in Minneapolis. Begin the day with Bernie Madison giving a featured 50-minute presentation on Mathematics Across the Curriculum (MAC) and Quantitative Literacy (QL). Bernie will share his extensive experience implementing MAC/QL projects.

Bernie has been involved in national efforts to reform undergraduate mathematics curricula for the past 20 years. His efforts include directing Mathematical Sciences in the Year 2000, participating in the reform of AP Calculus as a Chief Reader, promoting assessment of student learning, and reforming the mathematical preparation of teachers. He is the president of the National umeracy Network. Bernie holds a bachelors degree in mathematics and physics from Western Kentucky University and master’s and doctoral degrees in mathematics from the University of Kentucky.

Following the 50-minute session Rebecca Hartzler, Deann Leoni, Caren Diefenderfer, Frederick Reese, and Klement Teixeira will conduct an interactive workshop (Y1) that will provide activities and strategies to implement MAC/QL at the course, departmental, and institutional levels based on your specific interests and program needs.

Don’t miss the all new component of this symposium, the poster session (Y2) that will include display and discussion of posters created by participants at recent MAC/QL institutes. These posters provide creative visual images of mathematics across the curriculum. An informal setting will allow you to browse through the posters, visiting with each poster presenter. Titles, descriptions, and presenters’ names will be included in the conference program for your reference.