SESSION I – FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 2000 – 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon (Pre-Registration Required)
SPREADSHEETS - AN EXCELLENT WAY TO DO STATISTICS Business Development Center Rm 214
Speaker: Anne Landry, Dutchess Community College
Presider: Suzanne Trabucco, Nassau Community College
Participants will be led through a hands-on tutorial in
Excel. As time permits, we will work through projects for an elementary
statistics course. Handouts of the tutorial and the projects will be provided.
Commercial Presentation: Brooks/Cole Thomson Learning 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
THE LEARNING EQUATION Student Center Rm 145
Speakers: Gary Whalen and Kevin O’Sullivan
Presider: Maureen O’Grady, Suffolk County Community College
The Learning Equation is a Brooks Cole courseware product that includes material for the entire developmental mathematics curriculum: Basic Math, Pre-Algebra, Elementary and Intermediate Algebra. This courseware can be completely customized and is truly interactive. It is a completely integrated testing, tutorial, and course management system that includes all the material needed for the students to progress through the course.
SESSION II – FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 2000 – 1:30-2:30 p.m.
THE PROSTAPHAERETIC MULTIPLIER - A SLIDE RULE FOR ANCIENT GREEKS RM 141
Speakers: David Sher, Dean Nataro, Nassau Community College
Presider: Anne Landry, Dutchess Community College
This talk describes a multiplication machine that Euclid
could have built, but apparently didn’t.
USING EXEMPLAR CURRICULA TO PREPARE PRESERVICE TEACHERS RM 142
Speaker: Barbara A. Lawrence, Borough of Manhattan Community
College
Presider: Sandra Peskin, Queensborough Community College
The speaker will discuss the New Performance Standards
and the teachers’ paradigm necessary to help students meet the standards.
How to use two of the four NSF approved Exemplary Curricula to prepare
teachers for the new licensing requirements and classroom challenges.
A LEARNING COMMUNITY AND ACTIVE LEARNERS RM 143
Speakers: Janet Liou-Mark, Estela Rojas, Arnavaz Taraporevala,
New York City Technical College
Presider: Rochelle Robert, Nassau Community College
Experiences in creating a learning community among faculty
and producing active learners at an intermediate algebra level will be
presented. Participants will be actively involved in this presentation.
TELE-MATHEMATICS: MATHEMATICS VIA TELECOMMUNICATION RM 145
Speaker: Yong S. Colen, Monroe College
Presider: Joan Shack, Hudson Valley Community College
Distance learning enables many students to enroll in courses without the constraint of being in a classroom. Correspondence and Internet courses have permitted many students the opportunity to learn by being accommodated to their schedules. However, these two methods lack the student instructor interactive component that some students need or prefer.
COFFEE BREAK 2:30 – 3:00 P.M. PLAZA ROOMS
SESSION III – FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 2000 – 3:00-4:00 p.m.
THE COMPUTATION OF AREA UNDER POLYNOMIAL CURVES WITHOUT CALCULUS
Speaker: Carlos A Marques, SUNY Farmingdale RM 141
Presider: Emad Alfar, Nassau Community College
The speaker will show an original way to derive the formula
for the area of a region bounded by a polynomial curve and the x-axis.
This proof uses no calculus, and makes use only of simple geometric and
combinatorial principles.
REFORMING THE RECRUITMENT AND PREPARATION OF SECONDARY SCHOOL MATHEMATICS TEACHERS
Speaker: Alice Artzt, Queens College RM 142
Presider: Sandra Peskin, Queensborough Community College
This talk will describe an NSF funded project that recruits
high school seniors into an innovative teacher preparation program in secondary
mathematics. Experiences will be shared regarding recruitment strategies
and a course in the psychology of learning mathematics that uses students’
experiences in their college mathematics class as the context for self-reflection
and study. Class materials, videotapes and excerpts from student journals
will be shared.
MATHEMATICS LITERACY FOR ALL: DIFFERENT TEACHING STRATEGIES FOR DIVERSE STUDENT POPULATIONS
Speaker: Reba Patterson, Medgar Evers College (CUNY) RM
143
Presider: Lucy Landesberg, Nassau Community College
Colleges and universities have a unique responsibility
and opportunity to prepare students in mathematics for a diverse world.
Mathematical Literacy is essential if students are to become informed and
be competent citizens. The presenter will discuss several ways to involve
students actively, and how to accommodate students’ individual learning
styles in mathematics.
GRAPHIC ATTRACTIONS RM 145
Speaker: Rochelle Wilson Meyer, Nassau Community College
Presider: Joan Page, Onondaga Community College
"Math 100" level students enjoy and are successful learning
applications of basic graph theory concepts to areas as diverse as sequencing
RNA, data compression, and matching interns with teaching hospitals.
COFFEE BREAK 4:00 – 4:30 P.M. PLAZA ROOMS
SESSION IV – FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 2000 – 4:30-5:30 p.m.
COMPUTER MATHEMATICS COURSE DEVELOPMENT AND COLLABORATION RM 141
Speakers: Elizabeth Chu and Josephine Freedman, Suffolk
County Community College
Presider: Yong Colen, Monroe College
This talk will discuss the result of collaboration between the Mathematics and Computer Science Departments. The course development was partially funded by an NSF Grant initiative. Course content and activities generated to help students see the connection between mathematics and computer programming will be presented and shared.
MATH AND SCIENCE MATTER: ESPECIALLY FOR YOUNG WOMEN RM 142
Speakers: Susan LaFosse and Diana Staats, Dutchess Community
College
Presider: Theresa Vecchiarelli, Nassau Community College
Over the past three years, Dutchess Community College has been hosting a successful annual math/science fair geared for young women. The speakers will discuss the logistics of organizing this event, and will share some ideas on developing "hands on" math components for the fair.
MATHEMATICS FOR THE NUMERICALLY CHALLENGED RM 143
Speaker: Lucy Landesberg, Nassau Community College
Presider: Candy Dance, Onondaga Community College
"1, 2, ½, 1.2, 2/1?…What difference does it make?" Expressions like this are not uncommon from our developmental pre-algebra students. This presentation will demonstrate the strategies we use to help students develop number sense and become active problem solvers.
A SPOONFUL OF MEDICINE MAKES THE MATHEMATICS GO DOWN RM 145
Speaker: Sheldon P. Gordon, SUNY Farmingdale
Presider: Ralph Bertelle, Columbia-Greene Community College
The topic of how the body reacts to various drugs and
medications is one that captures the interest of students at all levels
of the mathematical curriculum from developmental math up through college
algebra and pre-calculus and up to calculus. A variety of mathematical
models for the process of how the kidneys eliminate medications from the
bloodstream, all based on the use of actual, real-world data relating to
different drugs, will be presented.
FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 2000 5:30 – 6:30 P.M.
COCKTAIL HOUR (CASH BAR) HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY CLUB
SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 2000 6:00 a.m. Marriott Hotel Lobby
ESTIMATION RUN
SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 2000 7:30– 8:30 A.M.
BREAKFAST MAIN DINING ROOM - EAST
SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 2000 7:30– 8:30 A.M.
CAMPUS REPRESENTATIVE/ EXEC BOARD MEETING AND BREAKFAST
GREENHOUSE (STUDENT CENTER, LOWER LEVEL)
SESSION V – SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 2000 – 8:30 a.m. -9:30 a.m.
BUSINESS MEETING
STUDENT CENTER THEATRE
SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 2000 9:30 – 10:00 A.M.
COFFEE BREAK PLAZA ROOMS
SPONSORED BY HOUGHTON-MIFFLIN
SESSION VI – SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 2000 – 10:00 a.m. -11:00 a.m.
PLENARY SESSION STUDENT CENTER THEATRE
THE Y2.1K PROBLEM: WHAT CAN WE DO TO INSPIRE A SONG OTHER THAN "MATH SUKS"
Speaker: Edward Burger, Williams College
Is it true, as Jimmy Buffett says, that "Math Suks"? Together
we will take an honest look at how we communicate. We will hear true confessions
of risks taken and disasters encountered. High points include original
math music videos. Low points include a speaker's worst nightmare and other
chilling tales from the crypt. Everyone will receive a pair of 3D glasses
as a gift.
SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 2000 11:00 – 11:30 A.M. PLAZA ROOMS’
COFFEE BREAK and BOOK SIGNING with ED BURGER
SPONSORED BY KEY COLLEGE PUBLISHING
SESSION VII – SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 2000 – 11:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m.
RUNS, STREAKS, AND THE HOT HAND IN SPORTS
Speaker: Joseph Browne, Onondaga Community College RM
141
Presider: Abraham Mantell, Nassau Community College
Some of the most admired records set by athletes are those
for unbroken sequences of successes. Are these truly remarkable or just
what we ought to expect by random behavior?
Commercial Presentation: John Wiley & Sons:
A PRECALCULUS–CALCULUS PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM RM 142
Speaker: Philip Cheifetz, Nassau Community College
Presider: Rick Patrick, Adirondack Community College
Nassau College is offering college credit for precalculus
and calculus courses taken in local high schools. The model necessitates
a well thought out rationale and special relationships between the College
and local schools. The program can be generalized to many courses and can
be adapted to most institutions.
INTELLIGENT INTERACTIVE INTERNET INSTRUCTION RM 143
Speaker: John C. Miller, City College
Presider: John Vadney, Fulton-Montgomery Community College
Students learn mathematics primarily by solving problems.
Commercial software usually provides only "canned" solutions, emulating
workbooks. Students using xyAlgebra enjoy instant evaluation of each step
with an intelligent hint and a suggested next step always available. The
entire xyAlgebra package, including Internet support, is free.
CLASSROOM ASSESSMENT AND MATH LAB ASSESSMENT:
HOW WE DID IT AND WHAT WE LEARNED RM 145
Speaker: Anne Walsh, Monroe College
Presider: Estella Portes, Monroe College
The Mathematics Department and the Math Lab at Monroe
College are engaged in the outcomes assessment studies. Pre and post testing
was done for several math courses. Also transcript studies were done for
our college algebra and statistics courses.
SESSION VIII – SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 2000 – 12:45 p.m. -3:00
p.m. BANQUET
HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY CLUB
MUCH ADO ABOUT EVERYTHING: THE MATHEMATICS OF LEONHARD EULER
William Dunham, Muhlenberg College
This talk surveys Euler’s legacy with (roughly) equal
doses of history, biography, and mathematics. In so doing, we should better
understand Laplace's dictum: "Read Euler, Read Euler! He is the master
of us all."
SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 2000 3:00- - 3:30 P.M. PLAZA ROOMS
COFFEE BREAK AND BOOK SIGNING WITH BILL DUNHAM
SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 2000 3:15 P.M. PLAZA ROOMS
RAFFLE
SESSION IX – SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 2000 – 3:30-4:30 p.m.
ENUMERATION, GENERATING FUNCTIONS AND RECURRENCE EQUATIONS RM 141
Speaker: Loucas Chrysafi, SUNY Farmingdale
Presider: Patrick Wallach, Queensborough Community College
A brief introduction to generating functions as a tool
in enumeration techniques, and solution of recurrence equations.
COMMERCIAL PRESENTATION: MCGRAW HILL AND THE ALEKS CORPORATION RM 142
ALEKS...COMPLETE ASSESSMENT & LEARNING
(ASSESSMENT AND LEARNING IN KNOWLEDGE SPACES)
Speakers: Kathy Fagan, McGraw-Hill Regional ALEKS/Mathematics
Specialist
Mike Roseman, McGraw-Hill Distributed Learning &
Technology Specialist
Presider: Beverly Broomell, Suffolk County Community
College
ALEKS is an inexpensive web-based system for individualized
math learning. After assessing students' math knowledge, ALEKS interacts
with them, much as a skilled human tutor would, and focuses clearly on
what they are most ready to learn next. A robust classroom management system
enables instructors to monitor their students' mastery of topics as they
build a learning momentum that fuels success.
STUDENT LEARNING AND PROJECT ASSIGNMENTS IN MATHEMATICS RM 143
Speakers: Sheldon Gordon, Don Lewis, Deborah Jacobs, Ousman
Samba, SUNY Farmingdale
Presider: Estella Portes, Monroe College
The AMATYC Crossroads Standards call for students to assume a more active role in their mathematics education through projects and writing and to link the mathematics taught directly to the real world. This presentation will discuss project assignments used at the college algebra/precalculus level, including examples of student work so that the audience can judge how much mathematics students learn and communicate via such projects.
EXTENDING CALCULUS REFORM TO INTERMEDIATE ALGEBRA RM 145
Speaker: Umesh P. Nagarkatte, Medgar Evers College
Presider: Jacob Appleman, Queensborough Community College
When a concept is introduced in algebraic, numerical,
graphical and verbal approach (where possible) the process leads to a deeper
understanding and various related concepts get connected. Maple labs are
used in developing concepts, in addition to demonstrating solutions of
practical problems.
SUNDAY, APRIL 9, 2000 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. LIBRARY, 10TH FLOOR
BREAKFAST
SESSION X – SUNDAY, APRIL 9, 2000 – 9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.
UNUSUAL PROBLEMS Library, RM 122
Speaker: Ralph Selig, Fairleigh Dickinson University
Presider: Jonathan Natov, New York City Technical College
The speaker will present problems that are so unusual
that everyone will need to bring paper and pencil.
CHANGING PREREQUISITES FOR MATHEMATICS COURSES
FOR ELEMENTARY EDUCATION STUDENTS Library, RM
124
Speaker: June L. Gaston, Borough of Manhattan Community
College
Presider: Sylvia Svitak, Queensborough Community College
This talk will focus on changes in prerequisites at two-year and four-year colleges within the CUNY system to better prepare elementary education students in mathematics.
COFFEE BREAK 10:00 – 10:30 A.M. LIBRARY, 10TH FLOOR
SESSION XI – SUNDAY, APRIL 9, 2000 – 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
MAKING A MORE DYNAMIC CURRICULUM Library, RM 122
Speaker: Jonathan Natov, New York City Technical College
Presider: Ralph Selig, Fairleigh Dickinson University
How and why to include more dynamical systems in a two
year mathematics education.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING Library, RM 124
Speaker: Sylvia Svitak, Queensborough Community College
Presider: Beverly Broomell, Suffolk County Community
College
"Statistics using technology is hard but interesting" students tell me. Technology frees students from calculation drudgery but challenges them to do deeper analysis. I will describe how I use computers and graphing calculators to help students learn statistical reasoning.