Fall 2009 Math 490-02 Senior seminar on
Learning, teaching, and research in mathematics

Chi-Kwong Li
Office: Jones 128, Tel:221-2042, Fax: 221-7400, E-mail: ckli@math.wm.edu
http://www.math.wm.edu/~ckli
Office hours: TWR 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. and by appointments

Meeting Time and Place Tuesday/Thursday 2:00 - 3:20 p.m. Morton 302.

Course Description

We discuss learning, teaching, and research in mathematics.

Format

Instructor and students will take turn to discuss material related to learning, teaching, and research in mathematics. The key reference is:

• COMAP, For All Practical Purposes (Paper): Mathematical Literacy in Today's World (paperback version) (Comap, the Consortium for Mathematics and Its Applications) (Paperback), W. H. Freeman, 6th or 7th edition, 2003.

• Liping Ma, Knowing and teaching elementary mathematics: Teachers' understanding of fundamental mathematics in China and the United States.
• George F. Simmons, Calculus Gems: Brief Lives and Memorable Mathematics (Paperback), McGraw-Hill Co., 1992.
• M. Nakahara and T. Ohmi, Quantum computing: From Linear Algebra to Physical Realizations, CRC Press, Taylor and Francis Group, New York, 2008.
• M.A. Nielsen and I.L. Chuang, Quantum computation and quantum information, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2000.
• C.K. Li, A website on mathematical education related topics.
• Wikipedia.

Assessment

   Participation (1 point for each meeting roughly)        25%
   Presentation/Leadership of discussion                   25%
             (evaluated by instructor and participants)
   Evaluation, discussion, and homework.                   25%
   A paper on computing and related subject.               25%
   Extra credits (inspiring ideas/problems/solutions)       5%

Letter Grades

 
     Grades (for homework, quizzes, exams, final grade, etc.):
 
     %: 0 - 60 - 65 - 70 - 75 - 80 - 83 - 87 - 90 - 93 - 100
          F    D    C-   C    C+   B-   B    B+   A-    A       
 

Discussion schedule

• August 27. C.K. Li, Euler circuit.
• September 1. Group discussion on the evaluation scheme and evaluation form.
• September 3. C.K. Li, Quantum computer.
• September 8. Ruth Adkins. Tiling problems. (A chapter in the reference).
• September 10. Caitlin Thomas. Teaching middle school students. Making mathematics Relevant, Enjoyable, Accessible, and Learnable. (REAL)
• September 15. Dan Villarreal, Apportionment schemes
• September 17. Jacob Foley, Monte Carlo and Personal Finance.
• September 22. Maura Bardos, Energy Statistics.
• September 24. Chi-Kwong Li, Abacus.
• September 29 Kristina Fitzhugh. Probability and the game of poker.
• October 1. Meredith Wachs. Statistics related to education data.
• October 6. Joseph Mark. Baseball player performance relating to contract incentives.
• October 8. Dan Thaler. Modern Portfolio Theory
• October 13. Fall Break.
• October 15. Brian Carrico. Voting.
• October 20. Barbara Luckett. Probability as a factor in risk management and system safety.
• October 22. Maura Bardos, Mathematics and Voting.
• October 27. Meredith Wachs, Identifications and error correcting.
• October 29. Ruth Adkins, Technology and teaching mathematics.
• November 3. Joseph Mark, Linear Programming.
• November 5. Brian Carrico, Probability.
• November 10. Barbara Luckett, Innumeracy.
• November 12. Cait Thomas, Population growth.
• November 17. Kristina Fitzhugh, Climate models.
• November 19. Jacob Foley, Game Theory.
• November 24. Dan Villarreal,
• November 26. Thanksgiving break.
• December 1. Dan Thaler,
• December 3. Chi-Kwong Li, Conclusion, Evaluation, ...