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Iowa Section of the Mathematical Association of America |
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| Governor: Joel Haack, University of Northern Iowa | Past-Chair: Theron Hitchman, University of Northern Iowa |
| Chair: Jon White, Coe College | Vice-Chair: Russ Goodman, Central College |
| Vice-Chair Elect: Debra Czarneski, Simpson College | Secretary: Ronald Smith, Graceland University |
| Treasurer: Scott Searcy, Waldorf College | Information Director: Amanda Matson, Clarke College |
| Liaison Coordinator: Russ Goodman, Central College | Competition Coordinator: Ruth Berger, Luther College |
| Call for papers | Elections | Simpson Campus | Lodging | Schedule | Abstracts | Preregistering |
The annual meeting of the Iowa Section of the Mathematics Association of America will soon be here. We are fortunate to have David Bressoud be our speaker both Friday evening (The Truth of Proofs) and Saturday morning (Issues of the Transition to College Mathematics).
David Bressoud
DeWitt Wallace Professor of Mathematics, Macalester College
Past President of the MAA
The Truth of Proofs
Mathematicians often delude themselves into thinking that we create proofs in order to establish truth. In fact, that which is "proven" is often not true, and mathematical results are often known with certainty to be true long before a proof is found. I will use some illustrations from the history of mathematics to make this point and to show that proof is more about making connections than establishing truth.
Issues of the Transition to College Mathematics
Over the past quarter century, 2- and 4-year college enrollment in first semester calculus has remained constant while high school enrollment in calculus has grown tenfold, from 60,000 to 600,000, and continues to grow at 6% per year. We have passed the cross-over point where each year more students study first semester calculus in US high schools than in all 2- and 4-year colleges and universities in the United States. In theory, this should be an engine for directing more students toward careers in science, engineering, and mathematics. In fact, it is having the opposite effect. This talk will present what is known about the effects of this growth and what needs to happen in response within our high schools and universities.
As usual, we hope for a wide variety of talks from our own members. If you have something interesting to say about mathematics or teaching, contribute a talk and share with the rest of the section. Students (both undergraduates and graduates) are encouraged to participate.
In addition to the usual slate of contributed talks, we invite presentations for the following thematic sessions:
Special Session 1: "Now That Calculus is Reformed"
The calculus reform movement seems to have run its course, but what it has left behind is not entirely clear. We hope to provide a variety of talks on current developments in calculus instruction within the Section. We especially encourage briefer-than-usual talks to represent the abundance of varied practices in place at different institutions. Talks may be submitted through the regular channels, or consult with Brian Birgen (brian.birgen@wartburg.edu ) for coordination with other speakers.
All rooms are equipped with at least a computer and a projection unit. The projection unit is also capable of displaying overhead transparencies, sheets of paper, or other objects. (Other multi-media capabilities are also available if needed.)
Proposals for talks are due by October 15th, and are preferred by October 7th. Please use the electronic submission form at http://www.central.edu/maa/ProposalSubmit.asp [inactive now]. If you are unable to use the submission site, please send the following information to Jon White:
Contact information for Jon White:
Jon White Department of Mathematical Sciences Coe College Cedar Rapids, IA 50402 voice: 319-399-8280 fax: 319-399-8557 email: jwhite@coe.edu
We will be holding elections for a new vice chair elect at the meeting. The candidates for vice chair elect are Brian Birgen and Deb Czarneski. The search committee consists of Cal Van Niewaal, Murphy Waggoner and Ruth Berger.
We will also holding an election for Secretary. Ron Smith has agreed to be a candidate; his bio is below.
Ron Smith earned a BS in mathematics from Graceland University (1974), an MS (1978) and PhD (1984) in mathematics from Iowa State University. He began his official teaching career in 1978 at Graceland University and is a full professor there. Throughout this time, he has been active in the Iowa MAA, serving as as Chair of the Iowa section of the MAA in 1992, and at least four times a member of the nominations committee. His teaching duties have included most of the mathematics offerings at Graceland except statistics, and he also delights in teaching data structures, and does an occasional beginning guitar course. Besides his teaching duties, he has been a faculty sponsor of a number of Iowa Section Math Competition teams, ACM programming teams, and the Graceland Math club. Ron and his wife, Di, have two grown sons and four grandchildren.
Directions and a map of campus are available via http://www.central.edu/campusMap/. Most sessions will take place in the Vermeer Science Center, at the corner of West Third Street and University Street. Meeting participants can park in any campus lots
Blocks of rooms have been reserved at the following hotels. In all cases, call the local number and please let the clerk know that you are attending the Iowa section meeting of the MAA. Rooms have been saved under the group name "MAAIowa" until October 7. You can still attempt to make reservations after that date, but there is no guarantee of room availability. More general information about Pella is also available.
If you have questions, please contact Chair TJ Hitchman at theron.hitchman@uni.edu, Vice-Chair Jon White at jwhite@coe.edu (for program issues), Vice-Chair Elect Russ Goodman at goodmanr@central.edu (for local, on-site issues), or Secretary Bernadette Baker at bernadette.baker@drake.edu (for registration or other issues).
Thank you for your considering preregistering for the upcoming meeting. This will save time for you at the meeting, make it easier for our secretary at the meeting, and increase efficiency in gathering the data that the MAA headquarters asks of us for each meeting (including gender, whether you are a presenter, and student/faculty/other status). When you come to the registration table at the meeting, indicate that you have already preregistered. Your name will be looked up from the list gathered from this program and you will only need to pay the registration fee ($10) to complete the process. Preregistration takes place here: http://www.central.edu/MAA/Preregistration.asp. [inactive now]
We are trying to maintain an up-to-date database of all section members to provide better communication and save expenses on mailings. If you have not already updated your information, you may do so and it would be greatly appreciated.
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