AMS-MER Workshop on

Excellence in Undergraduate Mathematics:
Mathematics for the "Rest of Us"*

Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ

Thursday, December 6 - Sunday, December 9, 2001

Workshop Program:

Multitudes of undergraduates fulfill their math requirement without taking calculus. Yet, many of the courses they take -- which is likely their last formal encounter in mathematics instruction -- are in the tradition that lower level math courses are pre-requisites for the study of calculus. The challenge is to develop courses that are mathematically powerful, intellectually coherent, and meaningful to the students' major studies.

The workshop is designed to investigate different aspects of addressing the needs of this diverse group of students, among whom are many liberal arts majors and elementary education students, who do not take calculus. Assessment and reform of courses for the targeted groups is placed in the broader context of strengthening the various components of the undergraduate program that relate to providing quality mathematics experiences for all students.

The workshop program features:

• courses that have been developed for students in fields that do not require calculus, including the conceptual basis, development, and implementation of the courses

• fundamental issues underlying quality undergraduate math programs, including TA and faculty development, and recruitment and retention of math students

• departmental models for building effective undergraduate programs.

In addition to the scheduled plenary and break-out sessions, there will be time throughout the workshop for informal discussions with the presenters and other participants.

Plenary Speakers
Benny Evans from Oklahoma State University:
"Department Case Studies in Developing and Revising Courses below Calculus"

Amy Cohen from Rutgers University"
"Department Case Studies in Developing and Revising Courses below Calculus"

Cathy Kessel and Rosamond Welchman from Mathematics Education Consultant and CUNY Brooklyn College:
:Developing a Framework for Elementary Teacher Preparation and Designing Appropriate Courses"

Eric Kostelich from Arizona State University:
"Department Case Studies in Developing and Revising Courses below Calculus"

Michael Starbird from University of Texas at Austin:
"Focus on Students: Example of Liberal Arts Majors Resuscitating the Heart of Mathematics"

Solomon Friedberg from Boston College:
"Using Case Studies in Seminars on College Teaching"

Joaquin Bustoz and Kate Sisulak from Arizona State University:
"SUMS: Institute for Strengthening Understanding of Mathematics and Science"




Breakout Speakers:
Benny Evans from Oklahoma State University:
"A Modeling Approach to Entry Level Mathematics

Cathy Kessel from Mathematics Education Consultant:
"An Illustration of Longitudinal Coherence: Use of Representations and Different Subtraction Strategies in Japanese Texts and Teaching.

Paul Latiolais and Joyce O'Halloran from Portland State University:
"Integrating Quantitative Reasoning into Freshman General Education

Donald Marxen and Larry Zettel from Loras College:
"A Modeling Approach to College Algebra and Intuitive Calculus

Amy Cohen from Rutgers University:
"Reinvigorating a course in mathematics for liberal arts students.

Amy Cohen from Rutgers University:
"Reinvigorating a course in mathematics for liberal arts students.

Jim Fulmer and Tom McMillan from University of Arkansas at Little Rock:
"College Algebra on the Web and a Math Tutorial Lab for Students

Marc A. Sylvester from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania:
"Developing a Meaningful Undergraduate Statistics Sequence

Ros Welchman from Brooklyn College:
"A Mathematics Course for Elementary School Teachers

Solomon Friedberg from Boston University:
"Instructional Development: Teaching our Diverse Students

Matt Isom , Katie Kolossa, Scott Surgent, and Paul Vaz from Arizona State University:
"MAT 114 'College Mathematics' At Arizona State University

Michael Starbird from University of Texas at Austin:
"The Other Lessons: What students keep for life

The MER Forum