W1

Thursday, 9:30–11:30

Make It Real! Classroom Activities that Energize Students (IS, MI)
Frank C. Wilson

Too often students fail to see the connection between mathematics and their personal lives. By using dynamic classroom activities based on real-world data sets, students learn more, retain more, and are better motivated to do mathematics. Participants attending this workshop will receive a free workbook of classroom activities.

Take a Chance on Math: Probability for Preservice Elementary Teachers (TP, ST)
Andy D. Jones

Students sometimes have wrong intuitions about probability. In-structors must understand these intuitions are powerful constructs and may undermine teaching and learning regardless of the clarity and logic of classroom instruction. This hands-on workshop will explore probabilistic reasoning using various classroom activities, approaches (theoretical, experimental, geometric), and concrete models.

Rate, Ratio, and Average Rate of Change: What Does It All Mean? (IS, RB)
Scott L. Adamson

Average rate of change is often presented computationally. Students do not know what the computation means and confuse this computation with the arithmetic mean. This workshop will explore research involving these issues and will present ways to help students make sense of the ideas rates, ratios, and rate of change.

California Basic Skills Initiative: What’s It All About? (D, SS, C, RB)
Barbara S. Illowsky, Wade Ellis, Jr.

The California Basic Skills Initiative is a statewide project to improve student success in developmental courses. It produced the country’s largest research-based literature review of effective practices in basic skills education. Learn the multi-year activities of the BSI and how the findings can improve teaching and learning at your college.

Fun & Exciting Activities for Algebra Students (IS, D)
Sally D. Sestini, Mary E. Clarke

This interactive, hands–on workshop will introduce activities that can be used to engage elementary and intermediate algebra students. Under a Title V grant, Cerritos College faculty are using these activities to improve success rates. Handouts will be provided.

An Intelligent Partnership of Mathematics, Technology, & Manipulatives (TP, TT, IS, D)
Darlene Whitkanack

The preparation of teachers must focus on so many things that often something gets slighted or there is no coherence among the components. Both technology and manipulatives are critical in engaging students and emphasizing deep mathematical comprehension. This workshop will explore whole numbers, fractions, and algebra topics.

An Introduction to Graphing Equations and User Controls in Excel 2007 (TT)
Paul Seeburger

Learn to use Excel 2007 to graph functions, modify charts, record macros, and create dynamic mathematical explorations using buttons, drop-down menus, scrollbars, etc. Some familiarity with Excel is recommended. Includes a small amount of simple Visual Basic programming. A step-by-step handout will be provided.

Monumental Mathematics Activities (IS, TT, GE)
Beverly A. Meyers

Participants will gather data through hands-on activities to produce graphs (on graphic calculators) and find regression equations (linear through exponential) that fit the data sets. National monuments will be used for applications of the functions derived through the activity. Activities are appropriate from Beginning through College Algebra.

A Preview of AMATYC’s Traveling Workshops (IS, G)
Pat Averbeck, Patrick DeFazio

Preview four AMATYC Traveling Workshops and learn how to arrange for a workshop on your campus or at your affiliate meeting. Sample the content available then get tips from experienced faculty regarding how to best make use of their resource.

Dinosaurs! House Building! Hot Air Balloons! (IS, C, GE)
Laura Moore-Mueller, Robin Washam, Deann Anguiano, Russ Ballard

Groups will learn fun applications ranging from elementary algebra to precalculus topics. The projects are “ready to go” complete with assessment rubrics. Key mathematical concepts include 2D and 3D measurement, logical reasoning, modeling and quadratics. These activities were developed collaboratively with high school and college math faculty.

Learning-style Activities for Introductory Mathematics Courses (IS, D, GE, TP)
Bruce Wahl

Students taking introductory math courses like arithmetic, algebra, and liberal arts mathematics often learn best when the professor incorporates alternative activities into the lecture. In this workshop, participants will experience some games and projects that are easy to prepare and quick to use in class.

Cultural Contexts for Two-Year College Mathematics (C, GE, TP)
Barbra Steinhurst

Participants will hear about and experience several projects and activities that use cultural phenomena to explore mathematics.

Using Learning Objects to Improve Student Learning (TT, D, IS)
Wade Ellis, Jr.

With software-based learning objects, students act on mathematical objects, observe the consequences of those actions, and then reflect on the meaning of the consequences. Such learning objects encourage inquiry-based learning. The presenter will demonstrate several algebra learning objects and participants will create and discuss inquiry questions for these learning objects. .

Everybody Counts - but Is Everyone Counted? The Math of Voting (GE, G)
Don St. Jean

Many do not understand how a newly-elected leader can have received a smaller proportion of the popular vote than a competitor. Fewer still know how the winners of the Oscars or the Heisman trophy are chosen. This workshop covers the workings, strengths and shortcomings of different voting systems.

Practicing What We Preach: Effective Cooperative Learning Practices (IS)
Karen Wells, Annette L. Leopard

The presenters will make the case for using cooperative learning techniques. A number of classroom-tested techniques will be demonstrated. Sample activities for a variety of mathematics courses will be explored. Participants will receive a packet of classroom activities.

Biocalculus Computer Laboratory Projects (TT, MI, C)
Timothy D. Comar

This is a hands-on introduction to biologically oriented computer laboratory projects. These projects help students develop mathematical and computational skills needed to pursue quantitative biological problems. These projects are appropriate in calculus, biocalculus, or precalculus courses.

Toward Quantitative Literacy: Interesting Problems in Finance (GE, TT)
James A. (Jim) Ham

Research has shown that Americans are not very savvy when it comes to money matters. Ideally, financial literacy should be integrated across the curriculum. This workshop will introduce problems in finance that all students should experience. Participants will use the finance functions on calculators to assist in the computation.

Engaging Statistics Students Through Hands-on Experiences (ST, IS)
Roxy Peck

This workshop will focus on using hands-on activities, projects and other creative assignments to foster student engagement in the learning process. Suggestions for how these types of learning experiences can be integrated into the introductory statistics course and for how they can be used for assessment will be provided.

Projects Across the Curriculum (GE, IS, TP)
Christina Dwyer, Nancy R. Johnson, Joni Burnette Pirnot, Julie Francavilla

Projects and class activities from developmental through college-level (both precalculus and liberal arts) mathematics courses will be demonstrated. The types of projects will vary from skill building to information literacy assignments. Participants will work in small groups and will receive worksheets and handouts to take home.

The Log of Logs Portfolio for Mathematics Students (IS, A)
Robert N. Baker

This portfolio design meets the special needs of mathematics students. As an assessment device for a course grade, it provides an “artifact” reflecting both process and product, while modeling mathematical skills essential in business, the trades, and college. Examine student work, and then the design, in a discussion setting.

Minute Motivators (IS, G, SS, TP)
Leslie A. Smith

Communication in any math class starts first with building rapport. Using a plethora of quick motivational activities, participants will experience engaging discussions, thought-provoking self-awareness, and a renewed enthusiasm for teaching. Unleash a passion for learning in your students with these simple but effective minute motivators. Handouts will be provided.

Cutting the Cheese, Fantasy Divorce and Romulans in the Neutral Zone (GE, C, IS)
Christopher D. Oehrlein

Come and experience how the presenter incorporates active demonstrations and the use of manipulatives along with characters from science fiction and fantasy stories in a unit on Fair Division in his Liberal Arts Mathematics course.

Making It Real: Contextual Teaching and Learning in the Classroom (IS, C, TP)
Sydia Gayle-Fenner, Daniel M. Breuer, Ken Hurley, Chris Gardner, Phyllis Bailey

Bring math to life! Be more hands-on. Initiate self-directed learning. Promote a cooperative learning environment. Reduce student anxiety. Enhance transfer of knowledge. Accomplish it all through one pedagogy: Contextual Teaching and Learning (CTL). Experience CTL and discover its background, purpose and appeal. Make it real!