THE NEWSLETIER OF THE MATHEMATICAL ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA Calling All Mathfest Organizers May/June 1999 The MAA Committee on Sessions of dergraduate curricula, although any Volume 19, Number 5 Contributed Papers selects the topics topic of interest to the MAA member• and organizers for the contributed pa• ship will be considered. per sessions at Mathfests and at the na• To receive more information on how tional meeting. The committee would In This Issue to submit a proposal, to discuss your be delighted to hear from MAA mem• idea for a proposal, or to suggest a topic bers who are interested in organizing 2 Proposed MAA for a course you would like to take, con• sessions or who have suggestions for tact Nancy Baxter Hastings, Depart• Mission topics. Statement ment of Mathematics and Computer Planning is now underway for the Science, Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA Mathfest at UCLA, August 3-5, 2000, 17013; (717) 245-1626; e-mail: 2 Edwin MOlse and for the Joint Meetings in New Or• [email protected].• Dies at 79 leans,January 10-13, 2001. The dead• line for receipt of proposals for the Los Tom Banchoff to Give 3 Woody Dudley on Angeles Mathfest is July 31, 1999, and F~tLeiuelLecnue the CMJ for the joint meetings is December 31, 1999. The first Leitzel Lecture has been 4 Contributed Send or e-mail proposal title, name(s) scheduled for Sunday, August 1, from Papers for and address(es) of the organizer(s), 8:30 to 9:20 a.m. at the Mathfest in and a one-page summary to the chair Providence, RI. The speaker will be January 2000 of the committee, Howard Penn. MAA President Thomas BanchofI. Meeting His talk is called "Teaching Stages." E-mail: [email protected] Address: Department of The Leitzel Lecture series was estab• 7 ARUME Calls for Mathematics lished in memory ofJim Leitzel, an Papers U.S. Naval Academy active member of the MAA who con• Annapolis, MD 21402 tributed in untold ways to the Asso• 8 1998 Contribu- Phone: (410) 293-6702 ciation and to the improvement of mathematics teaching. tors to MAA Fax: (410) 293-4883 Programs The MAA Committee on Minicourses The Leitzel Lectures are supported is soliciting proposals for new by the Leitzel Lecture Fund, whose endowment has now reached over 10 Professional minicourses to be given at Mathfest 2000 at UCLA and the Joint Meetings $41,000. Over 400 donors have con• Development in New Orleans. tributed to the fund. Most minicourses are related to the un- For more infonnation on the Leitzel Lecture Fund and on how you can make a donation to the MAA, see The Mathematical Association of America Postage paid at 1529 Eighteenth St., NW Washington. DC and MAA Online (www.maa.org) additional mailing f"J . Washington, DC 20036 offices FOCUS May/June 1999 Proposed New Mission Statement Reflects FOCUS Goals of MAA's Growth
FOCUS is published by the Mathematical Tom Banchojj Association of America in January, Last January, Reasons Why February, March, April, MaylJ une, Augustl the MAA Board September, October, November, and We agreed that communication is one December. of Governors of our major activities and challenges. asked a group We already have successful journals at Editor: Harry Waldman, MAA; of officers, [email protected] different levels meeting the needs of members, and most members, and we will consider Managing Editor: Carol Baxter, MAA staff to prepare even more. [email protected] a set of recom• mendations Our book publishing program is going Please address advertising inquiries to: that would well and promises to support the aims Carol Baxter, MAA; [email protected] guide the Asso• of our A~sociation even more. These President: Thomas Banchoff, Brown ciation in the first three years of the new aims have helped to shape MAA Online University century. In late March, a 19-member as it grows and evolves into one of our First Vice-President: Anita Solow, planning group devoted two days to set• most important sources of day-to-day Randolph-Macon Woman's College ting priorities for the Association's fu• information and into a forum for the ture. discussion of issues of interest to mem• Second Vice-President: Ed Dubinsky, bers in general, and to subgroups of Georgia State University As part of the charge to answer the ques• members with special concerns. Secretary: Martha Siegel, Towson tion, "Who are we and who are we for?" University we formulated a new mission statement The interconnected activities of teach• for the Association. The current mission ing and learning have been our focus Treasurer: Gerald J. Porter, University of statement reads, "To advance the math• from the inception of the Association. Pennsylvania ematical sciences, especially at the col• We continue to be the major voice sup• Executive Director: Marcia P. Sward legiate level." porting the efforts of individuals and departments to do an ever better job Associate Executive Director and Direc• We will propose to the Board of Gover• of this primary responsibility. tor of PubUcations and Electronic Se.... nors an expanded mission statement for vices: Donald J. Albers the MAA, to read as follows: Many of our efforts will continue to in• Letters to the editor should be addressed to volve cooperation with granting agen• "To promote communication, teaching cies and other organizations concerned Harry Waldman, MAA, 1529 Eighteenth and learning, and research in math• Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036. with the advancement of our profes• ematics and its uses, especially at the sion, particularly in the encouragement Subscription and membership questions collegiate level, for all who are inter• should be directed to the MAA Customer ested in the mathematical sciences." Service Center, 800-331-1622; e-mail: see Mission on page 7 [email protected]; (301) 617-7800 (outside U.S. and Canada); fax: (301) 206-9789. FOCUS is a benefit of MAA membership. Edwin Moise, Former MAA President, Dies at 79 The subscription price to individual Edwin Evariste Moise, sity (1961-71), Moise served as the members is $6.00, which is included in the MAA's president in 1967-68. He was also annual dues. who served as MAA president, was a vice-president of the AMS, a fellow of Copyright © 1999 by the Mathematical specialist in topology, the American Academy of Arts and Sci• Association of America (Incorporated). author of numerous ences, and on the faculty of Queens Educational institutions may reproduce textbooks, and crypt• College of the City University of New articles for their own use, but not for sale, analyst in the Office of York (1971-87). He later devoted his provided that the following citation is used: time to studying 19th-century English "Reprinted with permission of FOCUS, the the Chief of Naval poetry. newsletter of the Mathematical Association Operations during the Second World of America (Incorporated)." War. He died last December of Moise's books included Elementary Ge• complications following heart surgery. Periodicals postage paid at Washington, DC ometry from an Advanced Standpoint and additional mailing offices. Born in New Orleans, Moise graduated (Addison Wesley, 3rd edition, 1990), In• from Tulane University in 1940. After troductory Problem Courses in Analysis and Postmaster: Send address changes to the Topology (Springer, 1982), Geometric To• MAA, P.O. Box 90973, Washington, DC receiving his Ph.D. in mathematics pology in Dimensions 2 and 3 (Springer, 20090-0973. from the University of Texas in 1947, he taught at the University of Michigan !9711, Elements oj Calculu~ (Addison ISSN: 0731-2040; Printed in the United (1947-1960) and was a member of the Wesley, 1972), Number Systems ofElemen• States of America. Institute for Advanced Study (1949-51). tary Math (Addison Wesley, 1966), and During his tenure at Harvard Univer- Calculus, Part I (Addison Wesley, 1966). 2 May/June 1999 FOCUS On Becoming Editor of the College MathematicsJournal Woody Dudley The first thing you do is you feel pose I'll continue to get phone calls like aminations (some humble. The tradition ofMAAjournals the one that came last week from a of them dreadful), can be overwhelming. Think of the failed-to-be-accepted author. He had picks up the CM] Monthly, more than one hundred years sent his piece to the Monthly, but it was with the hope of old! How manyjournals are older than too long for the Notes section. Math• finding something that? Not very many. The College Math• ematics Magazine said that its level was that will be interest• ematics Journal doesn't have quite that too low and I had said it was too high. ing, informative, or longevity, but it has published contri• "But this is new," the author said, "and both. There'll be a butions from Paul Halmos, George people should know about it." He's commemoration of P6lya, Ralph Boas, Peter Hilton, from right, but they may not. the 200th anniver• sary of the death of Underwood Dudley Ivan Niven, H. S. M. Coxeter, two gen• Turndowns are a part of mathematical Maria Agnesi, "the first woman in the erations of Tuckers (Albert and Alan), life. I once sent a paper to an editor on Western world who can legitimately be Anneli Lax, Richard Guy, ... -from the Monday and it came back (this was in called a mathematician" (Alexander first-magnitude luminaries, the novas prephotocopy days, when manuscripts Hahn), there'll be a paper on the even, of the profession. were returned) on Thursday. Or maybe subtleties of calculus, such as the func• it wasn't until the next Monday, but it How can any mere mortal presume to tion which doesn't have a point of in• was definitely a rejection. My file la• be able to carry on the tradition? The flection at a point where its derivative beled "unpublished manuscripts" is next thing you do is you get to work. is zero and is positive on either side. large. Maybe the world can do without The manuscripts come in (from au• Media Highlights and Fallacies, Flaws, my uniformitization of a result of Erdos, thors who get no pay for their work) and Flimflam, Software Reviews, and but my new proof of a theorem of Fejer they go out to Associate Editors (who the other sections of the CM] will con• was clever, and the editor who failed to volunteer their services) and referees tinue to appear. (who somehow make time to complete accept my piece on Cauchy was a real their difficult but necessary tasks). Edi• idiot. It's hard, on both sides of the I hope to add a section called "Miscel• tors of the sections of the CM]-what fence, to have a paper turned down. lanea" (or something like that). It will contain, well, miscellaneous items. For would it be without Problems and So• Getting Respect lutions?-turn in their material on time example, in the New York Times a while and in good shape. Wow, do authors give editors respect! ago there was a book reviewed that had don't get it from my wife, children, or in it the information that in some soci• Accepting and Rejecting Articles colleagues-they all know better-and ety "75% of the wealth was in the hands The bad part of the job is having to tum after a few weeks of class the veneer of the top 20% of the population, and papers down. An old acquaintance cut wears thin with some students. It's dif• the lowest 20% had only 6%." It's a dif• me semidead at the San Antonio meet• ferent with authors: I can tear their ficult exercise to assign the percentages ing, probably because I had told him work to shreds, sending it back to them of wealth in the 4th, 3rd, and 2nd that the CM] wouldn't publish his pa• with red marks all over their pages, and quintiles, call them a, b, c, so that 6 < a per. The decision wasn't personal, nor they'll return it, having made all the < b < c< 75 and 6 + a + b + c+ 75 = 100. was it much of a professional slight. Not changes, and say that they're grateful. Pointing out slips like that won't make many of the papers that come to the It's wonderfully ego-building. them go away, but it can't do any harm CM] are rejected. A few are, but most either. If anyone notices anything like So is seeing a printed CM], my baby, out that, or anything else that would be of that don't get published fail to be ac• there in the world on its own. I did that! general interest, let me know. cepted. There's a distinction: rejected Of course that's nonsense. It's the au• papers are bad, but ones that fail to be thors, the referees, the Associate Edi• MAAJournals accepted aren't. Therejust isn't room tors, the compositors, the printers: MAA journals contain riches. When to publish all that I would like to. they're the ones who make it happen, John Ewing was compiling his splendid not me, and if I didn't exist the CM] In an ideal world, one where there was A Century ofMathematics: Through the Eyes would have come out anyway. But, irra• a larger market and audience for math• of the Monthly (MAA, 1994; make sure tional as it is, the feeling is still there, ematical work, many more papers that that your school library has a copy) I and it's a nice one to have. are sent to the CM] would be published was assigned the decade of the . 40s to than are now. (If anyone knows of a The eMJ Reader go through and pick out items that foundation that wants to do good by might be included. There was an amaz• I think of the typical reader of the CM] making a grant to the CM] so that it ing amount of material that cried out as being a hard-working calculus can have at least five times as many to be reprinted, much more than there teacher who, after a day of teaching pages as it does now and publish was room for. The next time you're three classes, going to a committee monthly-weekly might be a bit stranded on a desert island, you could meeting, conferring with two students much-let me know and I'll apply.) do worse than take along bound vol• who wanted to know what will be on the umes of the Monthly, Mathematics Maga• Until the grant comes through, I sup- next test, and grading twenty-five ex- zine, and the CM] .• 3 FOCUS May/June 1999 Preliminary Announcement of MAA Contributed Papers Scheduled for Washington, D.C., Meeting in January 2000 and in teresting ways of teaching history Innovative Uses of the World The organizers listed below solicit con• of mathematics classes. Ideas about Wide Web in Teaching tributed papers pertinent to their ses• how to get students actively involved are sions; proposals should be directed to especially encouraged. Mathematics the organizer whose name is followed Wednesday and Thursday mornings This contributed paper session will fo• by an asterisk (*). Sessions generally cus on creative uses of the World Wide limit presentations to ten minutes, but Florence Fasanelli (*) College-University Resource Institute Web in mathematics instruction. Pro• selected participants may extend their posals are solicited on original uses of contributions up to twenty minutes. 4711 Davenport St. NW Washington, DC 29916 Web resources in the classroom. We are Each session room contains an over• looking for presentations involving the head projector and screen; black boards phone: (202) 966-5591 e-mail: [email protected] use of real data sets, instructional ma• will not be available. Persons needing terials, interactive simulations, additional equipment should contact, V. Frederick Rickey, U.S.M.A. at videoconferencing, or other topics of as soon as possible, but prior to Octo• West Point interest for educators who are currently ber 5, 1999: the session organizer and Victor J. Katz, University of the District using, or planning to use, the Web in Jim Tattersall, Department of Math• of Columbia their classes. ematics and Computer Science, Provi• dence College, Providence, RI 02918, Wednesday and Thursday mornings e-mail: [email protected]. Please Brian E. Smith (*) Department of Statistics note that the dates scheduled for these Integrating Mathematics and sessions remain tentative. Faculty of Management Other Disciplines McGill University Submission Procedures for MAA 1001 Sherbrooke St. West Contributed Papers. The session will present: discussions of the content of current mathematics Montreal QC, Canada H3A IG5 Send the name(s) and address(es) of courses in the first two years in the light phone: (514) 398-4038 the author(s) and a one-page summary of the way other disciplines use math• fax: (514) 398-3876 of your paper directly to the organizer ematics and the expectations they have e-mail: [email protected] indicated with an (*). In order to en• of our students, discussions of how ap• Marcelle Bessman able the organizer(s) to evaluate the plications of mathematics in other dis• Jacksonville University appropriateness of your paper, include ciplines can be incorporated into math• as much detailed information as pos• ematics courses in a way that enhances sible within the one-page limitation. mathematical understanding, and Environmental Mathematics in presentations of exemplary courses or Your summary must reach the desig• the Classroom nated organizer by Thursday, Septem• course modules. Submissions are en• ber 9, 1999. Submission of proposals via couraged from teachers in engineer• Presentations are invited that apply e-mail is preferred. The organizer will ing, the physical and social sciences, mathematics to problems of the envi• acknowledge receipt of all summaries. and management and public policy, ronment and that are suitable for c1ass• If the organizer accepts your paper, you showing examples of how mathemat• room use. Also invited are papers that will receive instructions about prepar• ics is used in their courses. Submissions address the issue of infusing environ• ing an abstract. Please submit com• are also encouraged from mathemati• mental awareness into the teaching pleted abstracts to the AMS by Tuesday, cians who have successfully incorpo• community. This session is sponsored October 5, 1999. Abstracts received af• rated such material into their courses. by the Committee for Mathematics in ter the deadline will not be published Wednesday and Thursday mornings the Environment in the booklet of abstracts available in William McCallum (*) Wednesday and Thursday mornings the meetings registration area during Department of Mathematics Ben Fusaro (*) the meeting in Washington, D.C. University of Arizona Department of Mathematics Tucson, AZ 85721 Florida State University The Use of History in the phone: (520) 621-6886 Tallahassee, FL 32306 Teaching of Mathematics fax: (520) 621-8322 phone: (850) 644-9717 e-mail: [email protected] fax: (850) 644-4053 This session invites contributions from e-mail: [email protected] individuals to describe how they have Duff Campbell, U .S.M.A. at West Point used the history of mathematics in in• Deborah Hughes Hallett Pat Kenschaft, novative ways in the classroom to moti• University of Arizona Montclair State University vate students or to support changes in David Lay, University of Maryland curriculum and pedagogy. Ideas about Nicholas Losito, SUNY Farmingdale the use of history to prepare future Jim Rolf, U .S.M.A. at West Point teachers are especially encouraged. Also Yajun Yang, SUNY Farmingdale invited are contributions discussing new 4 May/June 1999 FOCUS Interdisciplinary Applications tel: (404) 299-4167 in the initial recruitment and prepara• for College Algebra fax: (404) 298-4815 tion offuture teachers of mathematics. e-mail: [email protected] With their emphasis on teaching and The College Algebra Reform Move• ties to common education, depart• Thomas L. Moore, Grinnell College ment has grown exponentially over the ments at two-year colleges provide a past few years. New courses have been unique atmosphere for attracting po• developed featuring data analysis, dis• tential teachers to the subject matter as crete dynamical systems, real life appli• well as acting as a laboratory for mod• cations, and modeling. Students are The Role of Mathematicians in eling effective teaching techniques. The expected to use graphing calculators or the Development of Mathemat• second session will address the role computers in these courses. Pedagogi• ics Teachers and Their Students played by Mathematics Departments at cal changes include small group work, four-year colleges and universities in the out of class projects, and writing assign• Mathematicians have manyopportuni• mathematical preparation of future ments. Interdisciplinary aspects appear ties to support and enhance the devel• teachers of mathematics. Mathematics in these reform courses through appli• opment ofK-12 mathematics teachers Departments provide opportunities for cations and group projects. The re• and their students. This session invites a content rich atmosphere across a wide formed courses are changing the role papers that describe the substarttive range of mathematics courses, reflec• of College Algebra from being a reme• involvement of mathematicians tive seminars, peer teaching programs dial course to being the core course in throughout K-12 education, but espe• and early field experiences particularly the non-calculus curriculum. Papers are cially in (a) planning and delivering valuable for future teachers. invited on all aspects of reforming Col• professional development for inservice Papers that discuss effective collabora• lege Algebra. teachers; (b) developing or analyzing curricular/instructional/assessment tions across mathematics courses, de• Wednesday and Thursday afternoons materials for llse in professional devel• partments and institutions will be given Don Small (*) opment with teachers or for use in class• special consideration, as will papers that Dept. of Mathematical Sciences rooms with students, with particular at• address issues of preparation of middle U.S. Military Academy tention to the mathematics presented; grade teachers, programs for elemen• West Point, NY 10996 and (c) collaborating with mathemat• tary mathematics specialists, and re• phone: (914) 938-2227 ics educators and classroom teachers on cruitment and retention of fax: (914) 938-2409 "action research" (e.g., research based underrepresented minorities to teach• e-mail: [email protected] ing mathematics. Specific details about on reflection about teachers' practice) J programs and courses, with handouts, Della Bell, Texas Southern University by providing a focus on and dose at• are strongly encouraged. Ahmad Kamalvand tention to the mathematics involved. Houston-Tillotson College Thursday afternoon Friday and Saturday mornings Diane Spresser (lit) Jay A. Malmstrom (*) National Science Foundation Department of Mathematics 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Room 885 Oklahoma City Community College Interdisciplinary Collaborations Arlington,Virginia 22230 7777 S May Avenue to Improve Service Courses in phone: (703) 306-1613 Oklahoma City, OK 73159-4444 phone: (405) 682-1611, X 7365 Mathematics and Statistics fax: (703) 306-0412 e-mail: [email protected] fax: (405) 682-7585 We invite descriptions of collaborations e-mail: [email protected] John Bradley with faculty and departments in other National Science Foundation Gary Britton, University of Wisconsin disciplines resulting in improvements Alfred Manaster Washington County to existing service courses in mathemat• University of California, San Diego Marjorie Enneking ics or statistics. Papers should describe Portland State University a challenge faced for a particular ser• James Loats, Metropolitan State vice course, a resulting collaboration College of Denver Looking to Our Future: Recruit• with faculty or a department in another Mary Robinson discipline, subsequent changes in the ing and Preparing the Next Gen• University of New Mexico service course, and the effects of the eration of Mathematics Teachers relationship between faculty and de• partments. Mathematicians and Mathematics De• Establishing and Maintaining Un• partments face the critical challenge of dergraduate Research Programs Wednesday and Thursday afternoons preparing the next generation of teach• Linda H. Boyd (*) ers of mathematics at the K-12 level. in Mathematics Department of Mathematics These sessions will illustrate ways this In recent years, there has been a grow• Georgia Perimeter College challenge is being met. The first session ing interest in research in mathemat• 555 North Indian Creek Drive will address the role that Mathematics ics by undergraduates. We seek papers Clarkston, GA 30021-2396 Departments at two-year colleges play that address successes and difficulties 5 FOCUS May/June 1999 in establishing, maintaining, funding, Millersville, PA 17551 other departments, a segment of a math and assessing undergraduate research phone: (717) 872-3957 for liberal arts courses, or new courses programs of all kinds, especially aca• fax: (717) 871-2320 such as "statistics for humanists". There demic year programs. Descriptions and e-mail: [email protected] are no restrictions on the techniques analyses of any efforts that support and used to teach the reasoning, but the Elias Deeba encourage the involvement of students emphasis should be on teaching the University of Houston-Downtown in mathematics research, including in• reasoning. Rich Marchand, USMA at West Point formal programs, mentoring individual Friday and Saturday afternoons students, conferences and meetings in• K.L.D. Gunawardena (*) volving students, REU programs and Department of Mathematics non-REU formal programs are wel• Math and Math Sciences in 2010: University of Wisconsin Oshkosh come. What Should Graduates Know? Oshkosh, WI 54901 Friday and Saturday mornings The third millennium confronts us with phone: (920) 424-1056 Emelie Kenney (*) the need to prepare our students for fax: (920) 424-7317 Department of Mathematics new challenges. Identifying these chal• e-mail: [email protected] Siena College lenges will guide mathematics depart• Nkechi M. Agwu Loudonville, NY 12211 ments in setting. addressing, and meet• Borough of Manhattan CC phone: (518) 783-2913 ing goals. A broad look at the under• Mary Sullivan, Rhode Island College fax: (518) 783-4293 graduate curriculum is particularly e-mail: [email protected] timely after over a decade of innovation and debate about content and peda• Joseph Gallian gogy in specific courses. This session Research on the Use of Hand• University of Minnesota, Duluth presents a panel of commentators on Held Technology in Teaching Daniel Schaal these issues and invites talks of two South Dakota State University Mathematics kinds: "think pieces" on what our ma• jors should know and examples of suc• For more than a decade, instructors cessful mathematics programs. Re• have been teaching mathematics with Innovations in the Use of Tech• search on the preparation of graduates graphing calculators. In that time, im• nology in Teaching Ordinary and for the workplace and/ or post-BA study provements in design and capabilities Partial Differential Equations and examples of collaboration with have expanded the range of calculator employers or thQS{" in mathematics-us• use from computation and function This session invites papers on recent ing fields are encouraged This session graphing to symbol manipulation and innovations in the effective use of tech• is organized on behalfof the MAA Com• geometric constructions; yet, research• nology in teaching ordinary and partial mittee on the Undergraduate Program ers are only beginning to explore the differential equations. A great deal of in Mathematics (CUPM). effects of these advanced technologies attention has been focused on using on teaching and learning. What have Computer Algebra Systems (CAS's) to Friday and Saturday afternoons we learned about using calculators in teach mathematics at the calculus level. Herbert E. Kasube (.) mathematics instruction? This session However, many upper level mathemat• Department of Mathematics seeks papers about research on the use ics courses can also be significantly en• Bradley University of hand-held technology in the teach• hanced with technology. In particular, Peoria, IL 61625 ing of mathematics. Reports of studies instructors can exploit visualization and phone: (309) 677-2505 using either quantitative or qualitative algebra capabilities to support their in• fax: (309) 677-2330 methodologies are welcome, but anec• struction. Additionally, students can e-mail: [email protected] dotal information is not the focus of this take advantage of technology in self Harriet Pollatsek session. Preference will be given to re• explorations, active learning or coop• Mount Holyoke College cent investigations, research involving erative learning modules which undergraduate mathematics instruc• complement the Calculus Reform tion, and studies of newer technologies Movement. We are looking for novel Teaching Statistical Reasoning with advanced capabilities. and proven methods for incorporating Saturday afternoon technology in the teaching of ordinary Statistical reasoning encompasses more Deborah A. Crocker (*) and partial differential equations. Ef• than just calculating p-values and con• Department of Mathematical Sciences fective projects requiring the use of fidence intervals - it includes formulat• Appalachian State University CAS's, especially those of an interdisci• ing questions, designing experiments, Boone, NC plinary nature are welcome. choosing appropriate techniques, and phone: (828) 262-2381 communicating results. Authors will Friday and Saturday afternoons fax: (828) 265-8617 discuss experiences teaching statistical Tim McDevitt (*) e-mail: [email protected] reasoning in a variety of undergradu• Department of Mathematics ate settings, including introductory sta• Penelope Dunham Millersville U niversi ty tistics courses, team taught courses with Muhlenberg College
6 May/June 1999 FOCUS Mission ARUME Calls for Papers St. Norbert College to continued from page 2 The Association for Research on Un• Host Undergraduate dergraduate Mathematics (ARUME) and training of new teachers. Mathematics Conference aims to foster a professional atmo• Research in mathematics and math• sphere for quality research in the Make plans now to attend the four• ematics education has been a part of teaching and learning of undergradu• teenth annual regional Undergraduate our publications effort and presenta• ate mathematics. Mathematics Conference sponsored by tions at sectional and national meetings St. Norbert College's Mathematics Contributed paper sessions for math• from the beginning, and we recognize Club, the MAA Student Chapter, and ematics educators and professional the importance of maintaining a rela• the Pi Mu Epsilon Chapter on Novem• mathematicians interested in research tionship between teaching and research ber 5-6. on undergraduate mathematics edu• functions at all levels. cation, organized by Julie Clark of Highlights of the conference will in• The phrase, "especially at the collegiate Davidson College, and Mickey clude sessions for student papers and level," acknowledges our traditional McDonald of Occidental College, will two presentations by Professor Lisa commitment to serving members work• be offered at the national meeting in Townsley Kulich of Benedictine U niver• ing in universities, colleges, and two• Washington, D.C., in January 2000. sity, one on Friday evening and the year institutions. other on Saturday morning. Research papers that address issues At the same time, we recognize that our concerning the teaching and learning Anyone interested in undergraduate concerns overlap with those involved in of undergraduate mathematics are in• mathematics is welcome to attend. All pre-college education and graduate• vited. students (who have not yet received a level education, as well as those com• master's degree) are encouraged to Theoretical and empirical investiga• mitted to research. present papers. tions using qualitative or quantitative Finally, in order to reach the broadest methodologies are appropriate. These Housing will be provided for students. audience for our MAA activities, we should be set within established theo• Be sure to bring your sleeping bags! state our commitment to "all who are retical frameworks and should further The conference is free and open to the interested in the mathematical sci• existing work. Reports on completed public. ences." studies are especially welcome. For further information, contact Rick By this we mean to include not only our Send the name(s) and addresses(es) Poss, St. Norbert College, De Pere, WI traditional core group of academic of the author(s) and a one-page out• 54115 (920) 403-3198, fax: (920) 403- pure and applied mathematicians, but line of proposed talks by September 3 4098 e-mail: [email protected] • also undergraduate and graduate math• to: Julie Clark, Department of Math• ematics students, former mathematics ematics, Davidson College, Davidson, students now working in the private and NC 28036; fax: (704) 892-2005; e-mail: public sector, teachers in allied disci• [email protected]. plines (like statistics and operations research), and all who appreciate the beauty and power of mathematics. New NSF Program: Adaptation and Implementation Projects This encompasses a great many people, and we look forward to serving them Are you interested in implementing a all. course at your institution based on what One thing that has become clear to us you learned at a National Science is that there are many MAA activities Foundation sponsored workshop? that fit under the proposed mission Consider the new NSF program for statement that are only indistinctly per• Adaptation and Implementation ceived by our membership. This, we Projects through the Course, Curricu• hope, will change as we pursue our lum, and Laboratory Improvement mandate to attract new members. (CCLI) program. Reformulating our mission isjust a first Information can be found at http:/ I Additional Mathfest Item: step. We must work together to move it www.ehr.nsf.gov/EHR/DUE/pro• forward. At the very least, the mission The AMS-MAA Invited Address statement exercise has led us to ask grams/cclilccli.htm or by contacting good questions. I look forward to hear• one of the mathematics program direc• OnJuly 31, from 3:05 p.m. to 3:55 p.m. ing from you. I can be reached at tors in the Division of Undergraduate at the Providence Mathfest, Carolyn S. [email protected].• Education--Jim Lightbourne at Gordon of Dartmouth College will give [email protected], Elizabeth Teles at a talk entitled "Inaudible Geometry." [email protected] or Frank Wattenberg at [email protected].• 7 FOCUS May/June 1999 Marshall P. Scott Susanna S. Epp n.,id l. Schn"ider 1998 Contributors to MAA Programs and Services D. R. Shanklin Edward T. Est\" Alan H. Sd.. ",uf~ld Linda M. Lesniak B01mie Sht'rwood Joseph R. Fiedler Mehin .... " FI<>~nce H. Annuallv hundreds of members give do• Gordon S. Lessells Ern""t F.. Shuh Da,id l.. Finn Shader Arthur L Levine Robert B, SH"c1"'!Itone Ruth A. Fish Rkh,.,.d J. Shmr nations ~o the Greater MAA Fund to sup• Bernard W. l..evinger John T. Skinner Stephanie A. Fitchett 1\.,,0. SIlen port MAA programs and services. Rudolph B. Lim Donald B. Small Eugenia E. Fiug('rald F'"Cllir. C. Sherburne Shen Lin Dicrdre L Smeltzer Joseph M. (;ani na,id L.. Smug Wendell D. Lindstrom D.,'d A. Smith T. K. Gard('nier Ben.... rd Sohmer These special programs develop and sup• M. A. Linton James L. Smith Emma W. Garnett Louis Solomon port new mathematicians and increase the Sally I. Lipsey Ted A. Smith Leonard Gillman Linda R. Son. Colleen G. Livingston Jude T. Soc... tc, Maurice E. Gilmore C3rl R. Spitmagd skills and opportunities for those working John D. Lorch R Chester W. Mills Anrlrr.w M Glf~'K1rI Mariah Birgen "\Il~da C. Hare Moira A. McDermott s..piI Sa)'dlan John D. Neff Debor... h T'·pp.... l lbimf. Russell D. Blyth fohn M. H;uri~ Michael A. McDonald DaDldJ. Sc:bMi MaryM. Neff Anna S. l-femi(lu~ Michael]. Bosse .loan E. Hall Katherine G. McGivney DorIIJ._~ Victor T. Norton John W. K MAA Professional Development: Summer 1999 cients date back over 2000 years, and Pascal's triangle more than 1000. In The year 1999 brings another summer College, Meadville, PA. Contact: spite of their great age, new aspects of of outstanding professional develop• George Bradley, binomial coefficients have been discov• ment programs for mathematics faculty. [email protected] or Steve ered in each of the past four centuries. At the national level, the MAA will hold Bowser, [email protected] Professor Richard Askey, University of six workshops: Institute on History of Web address: http:/ / Wisconsin traces the historical develop• Mathematics and Its Uses in Teaching; Part• webpub.alleg.edu/ ment of binomial coefficients from nerships: Physics and Mathematics; Partner• dept/mathweb/ssc98.html their origins to the present day. ships: Business, Economics, Finance and Mathematics; Statistical Thinking with Ac• Professor Robert Devaney, Boston U ni• tive Teaching Strategies; Cooperative Learn• versity, presents this short course which MAA Short Course at will focus on methods by which ideas ing in Undergraduate Mathematics Educa• Providence Mathfest99 tion; and Project NExT. While most of from dynamical systems theory may be included in various parts of the under• these will have closed by the time you Two-DAY SHORT COURSE: RECENT DEVEL• read this, there are plenty of other op• graduate curriculum. These topics pro• vide an ideal opportunity to give stu• OPMENTS IN THE TEACHING OF DIFFEREN• portunities. Consider participating in TIAL EQUATIONS a Section sponsored workshop or the dents (particularly lower division stu• dents) a glimpse of modern ideas in short course and minicourses at July 29-30, 1999 Mathfest99. Whether you are an expe• mathematics in a setting that is ger• mane to the course at hand. Organized by Paul Blanchard, Boston rienced senior faculty member or just University starting out, an adjunct or full time, you are sure to find something of interest. THE MATHEMATICS OF THE PERFECT Topics include the role of computation In addition to MAA's offerings, be sure SHUFFLE in the sophomore-level differential to check our Professional Development equations course, the introduction of Calendar on MAA Online for the many Ohio Section Short Course.June 23-25, qualitative and geometric techniques, other workshops being held this sum• 1999: Miami University, Oxford, OH. group projects, and the use of anima• mer. Contact: Bob Dieffenbach, (513) 727- tion. 3238; [email protected] MAA Section Workshops Web Address: http:/ / Please see the April, 1999 FOCUS or miavx3.mid.muohio.edu/ MAA Online for further information -rdieffenbach/shortcourse.htm and registration details. J IN THE MATH ClASSROOM: VISUALIZATION, NUMBER THEORY AND LINEAR ALGEBRA Presented by S. Brent Morris, National Security Agency, this minicourse will MAA Minicourses at Providence examine the mathematics of the per• EPADEL Section Summer Workshop Mathfest99 June 14-18, 1999: Messiah College fect shuffle, a permutation often used Grantham, PA. Contact: Marvin by mathematicians, magicians and com• Brubaker; (717) 766-2511, x7283; puter scientists for seemingly different THE CURVES AND SURFACES OF THE DIGI• [email protected] ends. The perfect shuffle has broad TAL AGE July 31,1:00-2:50 pm and Au• appeal because of its interesting math• gust 1, 1:00-2:50 pm. Designed for mathematics faculty who ematics and surprising applications to wish to explore using the computer lan• magic tricks and computer design. The guage J in the mathematics classroom. DISCRETE DYNAMICAL SYSTEMS: MATHEMAT• basic shuffle and several generalizations ICS, METHODS, AND MODELS August 1, Professor Cliff Reiter of Lafayette Col• will be introduced, and the group struc• lege will give an introduction to the lan• 1 :00-2:50 pm and August 2, 1:00-2:50 ture generated by the perfect shuffle pm guage and offer illustrations from his will be explored. Participants will be classroom use of J in teaching math• taught several card tricks using differ• CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AND THE IMAGI• ematical visualization, linear algebra ent properties of the perfect shuffle. and number theory. Participants are NATION July 31, 1:00-2:50 pm and Au• expected to share their own experi• gust 1, 4:10-6:00 pm. ences and brainstorm with other par• CALCULUS AND COUNTING ticipants about what makes a valuable GENERATING FUNCTIONS: TECHNIQUES AND North Central Section Summer Semi• computer based mathematics labora• TRICKS August 1, 4: 1 0-6:00 pm and Au• nar August 9-13, 1999: University of tory experiment. gust 2, 1:00-2:50 pm. Minnesota, Duluth, MN, Contact: 1999 Summer Seminar, Department of Math• Please see the April, 1999 FOCUS or TEACHING DYNAMICAL SYSTEMS ACROSS THE ematics and Statistics, University of Min• MAA Online for further information CURRICULUM nesota-Duluth, 10 University Drive, and registration details .• Duluth, MN 55812 Allegheny Mountain Section Short Course. June 21-24, 1999: Allegheny Counting aspects of binomial coeffi- 10 May/June 1999 FOCUS VIRGINIA EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES to two year extensions) beginning no later NATIONAL SCmNCE FOUNDATION than late summer/early fall 1999. Qualifica• Division of Elementary, Secondary, and INDIANA tion requirements at the Program Director Informal Education level include a Ph.D. or equivalent in a rel• DEPAUW UNIVERSITY Program Officer, Employment Opportunities, evant science or science education discipline, The Department of Mathematics at DePauw The Division of Elementary, Secondary and plus six or more years of successful, related University invites applications for a one-year Informal Education of the National Science experience beyond the Ph.D. Applicants with term appointment, with possibility of renewal, Foundation, seeks qualified applicants to serve a master's degree in a relevant field or with starting in the fall of 1999. Duties include on temporary "Intergovernmental Personnel less experience may be considered for assign• teaching three undergraduate courses (twelve Act (lPA) " appointments as Program Directors ment at the Associate of Assistant Program contact hours per week) each semester and while on leave from universities, colleges, or Director level. winter term. Ph.D. preferred, master's re• other educational or nonprofit agencies. Since Qualified individuals who are women, ethnic/ quired. DePauw University is a private liberal the timing of these positions is staggered, the racial minorities, and/ or persons with disabili• art~ college with 2200 students located forty• Division continually seeks talented applicants. ties are strongly urged to apply. No person shall five miles west of Indianapolis. In 1999 the Division expects to make appoint• ments in the following areas: be discriminated against on the basis of race, Applicants should send a vita, statement of pro• color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or fessional goals and teaching philosophy, and • Teacher Enhancement-Mathematics, disability in hiring by the National Science three letters of recommendation to Elementary and Secondary Foundation. NSF is an Equal Opportunity Underwood Dudley, Mathematics Depart• • Instructional Materials Development• Employer committed to employing highly ment, DePauw University, Greencastle, IN Elementary Mathematics qualified staff that reflect the diversity of our 46135. E-mail: [email protected]; phone: • Technology Education nation. Applicants should send a letter of in• 765-658-4488; fax: 765-658-4732. Review of • Informal Science Education-Commu- terest and vita to: applications will begin April 15 and continue nity-and Youth-based Projects Division Director until the position is filled. More information Responsibilities include proposal evaluation Division of Elementary, Secondary and about DePauw can be found at its website, and budget development, project oversight, Informal Education www.depauw.edu. DePauw University is an and scientific program planning within the National Science Foundation equal opportunity, affirmative action em• context of elementary, secondary and infor• 4201 Wilson Boulevard ployer. Women and minority candidates are mal education. Positions will be filled on a one• Room 885 encouraged to apply. year rotational basis (with the possibility of one Arlington, Virginia 22230 Life in the fast lane. It usually involves a few sacrifices. Your insurance coverage doesn't have to be one of them. Whether you're moving on or even out on your own, insurance offered through your !AA meabership won't end just because you've changed jobs. It travels right in your back. pocket. Take advantage of one of your best membership benefits. Affordable coverage. Reliable providers. Portable benefits. call BOO ~2~'6!3, or in Washington, DC 2D2-~S7-b620, to speak to a customer service representative. Because an established benefits package fits your changing lifestyle. 11 , , -,-,---.------~;;::;;::::_rr.l l.-uaV.V.uJ>N~n..~1AI.1(IUINII.- AI~"_ .... Classroom adivilics (ina diSdtSsion <~rours ae our web silt'. YOU'VE TAUGHT US WELL. At Texas Instruments, we're proud to provide the leading calculators for Math and Science. But perhaps the most valuable tools we offer are not the calculators themselves, but the resources and programs that can help you and your students incorporate them into your classroom. Whether its our activity books for every level, free calculator loans for workshops, or training made possible through our grants to T' workshops, our goal is to give you the support and resources you've requested. The success of these programs relies on your input. So the more we can learn from you, the more we can do for you. To learn more about our latest teacher support programs, visit our web site . • TEXAS INSTRUMENTS 1 -8 0 0 -TI -( ARE S(U.S. & Canadal [email protected] www.ti.com/colc id M. Elns«;n Joseph N. <:Ioss C. Lanelle Poteete-Young EIlJiqnt: &ro CarlD.~ll(·ller W.d.ElIi> Krzysztof M. Jarosz Vmnda Prabhu Bmce I. Coht'n EricaJohnson Homer F. Ik<:hteli Teril ~urphr j ...... A.Engi. Cahin M. Pullia<; Edward C. Nichols Donald R. Cohen MarkJ . .Johnson Martin Billik K.lten B. Galne. Alfred L. Putnam Eugene D. :\ichols Paul G. (:omba Luella H.Johnson Ru..... 11 D.Ill),h J'''''ph A. <4IIian Philip Quartararo,Jr. Albert f\:~jt'nhuis Thoma.<; A. COOtl Da\;d W. Jonah .John ll. 8.ddbum Peter Ganity Julianne G. Rainbolt Donald 1.. Olliff Clyde L Corcoran William R. & Karen Joslin Nancv J. BrJY Jam.. D. Gates Thomas C. Railey Cheryl L. Olsen Louis J. Cote David I..Jlldson David B"",'O"d AlbenJ. C.oodman Mary Lynn Reed Cahin I. Owens 11l'il"Tl V. Coulson Zaven A. Karian Ezra A. Brown J. H. Gmham Imla M. Reiner Hiram Pilky Da\id A. Cox Virginia G. Ka... ten MiioE Bf)'" Pda A. GuttVmaJl Sandra L Rhoades Daniel Pedoe Allan B. (:ruse Anatole Kallshanski John H. Bu,,:h;ut M. E. Hamstrom Edwina Richmond Sharon E. P('rsinger Robin A. Cnu Meg-an M. Kerr Karl E. B,'iem GerAld A. Heuer Sharon K. Robbert Donald I.. Plank Ann M. Curran Stan P. Kerr Nancy Campbell Betty F. Hinman Stacey A. Rodman Matjone E. Poorman Debm V. Curtis Thoma<; C. Kipps JolUl E. Ca""n D. Richard ntio Mario G. Rodriguez Alan G. Poonnan M. Hilary navies Wick Kimberly S. Kirkpatrick Stephen R. C'Wj()f Charles H . .JqIaen N . .J. Rose George D. PT)jma George E. Decker Marcia Klt'in Ke,in F.. O,.rl"ood D.wiell!cnnedy Daniel M. Rosenblum Gregory Rajewski Leonard P. Diana Gene\ieve M. Knight Samuel G. tI)llfldlman Bradford J. Kline Zalman Rubinstein Louise A. Raphael Anthony B. Di Luna Clayton & hy Knoshaug .Judith L C'''ington Roben C. Knapp Shawn Ruby Janet P. Ray Clayton W. Dodge Stephanie M. Kolitsch Annalisa K. CranneU Jeanne Laduk Fred L. Rufus Kenneth R. Rebman Penelopt· H. Dunham Ilcnry A. Krieger James P. Crawford JUcbard A. Ik Loura Wilson Ruiztorres Richard S. Rempel Earl F. Ecklund,Jr. Brenda K. Kroschel Barbara D'AmbrMia Little Robert L. Ruyle Diane Resek Bernard A. Edison Stephen W. Kuhn jan W. Dash Clifford A. Ie Man"... Da\id H. Sanders Robert Reynolds Marjorie Enneking Nancy L. Laing Steven M, Deck.lm:m J. I..ong Donald E. Sarason l.aura Richlin & Ruth G Fa\TO Edward M. I.andesman K.j.h.J. D""li" Ronald E. Looer Lisbeth Schaubrot'ck Milton Cox Da\;d A. Feil Glenda Lappan G. Diantoni() ~rLlliam D. Mancu Charles M. Schneeberger John o. & Mary Riedl John C. Fenley Keewai Lau JamN A. DOl!;lldoon TholMS J. lit ("Mol Nariowe Richard M. Schori Thomas W. Rishel Paul K. Fisclwr Robert N. l.eggctt jame, B. Dowling .Ienniler M. McNulty John Schue Kenneth B. Saunders Steplwn D. & Naomi Fisher Sharon l.esgold Rolxrt Downs 1)-J.Vid M. Merrien Blanche B. SchulLZ Ed L. Duhiw;\t\, Joel E. Schneider D.O. Miller 8 May/June 1999 FOCUS