Proposals
Below are some proposals for talks from the past (and current). By clicking on the ID number, more details are shown. By default, these are sorted chronologically (recent first) and by then by last name. The data can be sorted by alternate means by using the links at the top right, each allowing ascending or descending orders.
Displaying 21-40 of 471 results.
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ID:
70
Year: 2004
Name: Jonathan White
Institution: Coe College
Subject area(s): Undergraduate Mathematics Education
Title of Talk: Some Research-based Results on Technology and Visualization in Multivariable Calculus
Abstract: This talk will summarize some results of a multi-year study on the effects of technology use in multivariable calculus classes. The research focused especially on some differences in visualization skills between students who used computer algebra systems and others who did not.
Year: 2004
Name: Jonathan White
Institution: Coe College
Subject area(s): Undergraduate Mathematics Education
Title of Talk: Some Research-based Results on Technology and Visualization in Multivariable Calculus
Abstract: This talk will summarize some results of a multi-year study on the effects of technology use in multivariable calculus classes. The research focused especially on some differences in visualization skills between students who used computer algebra systems and others who did not.
ID:
340
Year: 2012
Name: Jonathan White
Institution: Coe College
Subject area(s): Teaching Mathematics
Title of Talk: Math Culture Points at Coe
Abstract: Coe has been using a "Math Culture Points" system for several years now to encourage and reward students for relevant activities outside of class, inspired by the article "Culture Points: Engaging Students outside the Classroom" by Fraboni and Hartshorn in PRIMUS v17. We have had excellent results, particularly including enthusiastic student participation in activities. We will discuss our implementations of the system, which differ from Fraboni and Hartshorn
Year: 2012
Name: Jonathan White
Institution: Coe College
Subject area(s): Teaching Mathematics
Title of Talk: Math Culture Points at Coe
Abstract: Coe has been using a "Math Culture Points" system for several years now to encourage and reward students for relevant activities outside of class, inspired by the article "Culture Points: Engaging Students outside the Classroom" by Fraboni and Hartshorn in PRIMUS v17. We have had excellent results, particularly including enthusiastic student participation in activities. We will discuss our implementations of the system, which differ from Fraboni and Hartshorn
ID:
404
Year: 2014
Name: Jonathan White
Institution: Coe College
Subject area(s): Pedagogy/Transition to Proof
Title of Talk: Constructing the Naturals -- An Inquiry-Based Approach
Abstract: The construction of the natural numbers via the Peano Axioms is a strangely neglected backwater of the undergraduate curriculum. It deserves more attention. Meanwhile, although inquiry-based learning has gained some traction, it usually is considered a binary decision, where a course either is or is not taught using an IBL approach. I propose a standalone unit, giving our number systems the foundation they deserve, and offering a "trial size" taste of IBL.
Year: 2014
Name: Jonathan White
Institution: Coe College
Subject area(s): Pedagogy/Transition to Proof
Title of Talk: Constructing the Naturals -- An Inquiry-Based Approach
Abstract: The construction of the natural numbers via the Peano Axioms is a strangely neglected backwater of the undergraduate curriculum. It deserves more attention. Meanwhile, although inquiry-based learning has gained some traction, it usually is considered a binary decision, where a course either is or is not taught using an IBL approach. I propose a standalone unit, giving our number systems the foundation they deserve, and offering a "trial size" taste of IBL.
ID:
236
Year: 2008
Name: Fengrong Wei
Institution: University of Iowa
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: variable selection in high dimensional regression
Abstract: My research work studies statistical regression models for data sets with a small sample but huge number of variables. For example, we may wish to study the same 5000 genes in only 200 individuals with the goal of predicting whether they will develop a certain rare cancer. A classical linear regression for the cancer outcome in terms of the 5000 genes does not work with only 200 data points because the associated linear equations are not full rank. We might choose 200 of the genes and do a regression, but there are over 10^363 such choices. My work uses "penalty functions" add to the linear equations which will make the problem solvable. Theoretically, we can show that the result have the "oracle" property which means it will give us the baseline true model with probability going to 1.
Year: 2008
Name: Fengrong Wei
Institution: University of Iowa
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: variable selection in high dimensional regression
Abstract: My research work studies statistical regression models for data sets with a small sample but huge number of variables. For example, we may wish to study the same 5000 genes in only 200 individuals with the goal of predicting whether they will develop a certain rare cancer. A classical linear regression for the cancer outcome in terms of the 5000 genes does not work with only 200 data points because the associated linear equations are not full rank. We might choose 200 of the genes and do a regression, but there are over 10^363 such choices. My work uses "penalty functions" add to the linear equations which will make the problem solvable. Theoretically, we can show that the result have the "oracle" property which means it will give us the baseline true model with probability going to 1.
ID:
237
Year: 2008
Name: Fengrong Wei
Institution: University of Iowa
Subject area(s): biomathematics
Title of Talk: variable selection in high dimensional regression
Abstract: My research work studies statistical regression models for data sets with a small sample but huge number of variables. For example, we may wish to study the same 5000 genes in only 200 individuals with the goal of predicting whether they will develop a certain rare cancer. A classical linear regression for the cancer outcome in terms of the 5000 genes does not work with only 200 data points because the associated linear equations are not full rank. We might choose 200 of the genes and do a regression, but there are over 10^363 such choices. My work uses "penalty functions" add to the linear equations which will make the problem solvable. Theoretically, we can show that the result have the "oracle" property which means it will give us the baseline true model with probability going to 1.
Year: 2008
Name: Fengrong Wei
Institution: University of Iowa
Subject area(s): biomathematics
Title of Talk: variable selection in high dimensional regression
Abstract: My research work studies statistical regression models for data sets with a small sample but huge number of variables. For example, we may wish to study the same 5000 genes in only 200 individuals with the goal of predicting whether they will develop a certain rare cancer. A classical linear regression for the cancer outcome in terms of the 5000 genes does not work with only 200 data points because the associated linear equations are not full rank. We might choose 200 of the genes and do a regression, but there are over 10^363 such choices. My work uses "penalty functions" add to the linear equations which will make the problem solvable. Theoretically, we can show that the result have the "oracle" property which means it will give us the baseline true model with probability going to 1.
ID:
180
Year: 2007
Name: Wendy Weber
Institution: Central College
Subject area(s): teaching prospective teachers
Title of Talk: Mathematical Questions from the Classroom
Abstract: How can we bridge the gap between prospective teachers
Year: 2007
Name: Wendy Weber
Institution: Central College
Subject area(s): teaching prospective teachers
Title of Talk: Mathematical Questions from the Classroom
Abstract: How can we bridge the gap between prospective teachers
ID:
479
Year: 2017
Name: Jake Weber
Institution: University of Northern Iowa
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Exploration of Counter Examples of Balance Sets
Abstract: With large data sets, one might ask if substructure exists, and if so, how large should the data subset be in order to guarantee this substructure. We investigated data subsets of Zp × Zp which are on the boundary, just short of enough data to guarantee substructure, specifically categorizing the data subsets that don’t have substruc- ture. First by brute force checking, we determined the counter examples (graphs with no substructure) for Z5 × Z5. These exam- ples guided our search into Zp × Zp where p ≥ 7. From there, we proved there are four categories of counter examples that do not have a balanced subset in Zp × Zp.
Year: 2017
Name: Jake Weber
Institution: University of Northern Iowa
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Exploration of Counter Examples of Balance Sets
Abstract: With large data sets, one might ask if substructure exists, and if so, how large should the data subset be in order to guarantee this substructure. We investigated data subsets of Zp × Zp which are on the boundary, just short of enough data to guarantee substructure, specifically categorizing the data subsets that don’t have substruc- ture. First by brute force checking, we determined the counter examples (graphs with no substructure) for Z5 × Z5. These exam- ples guided our search into Zp × Zp where p ≥ 7. From there, we proved there are four categories of counter examples that do not have a balanced subset in Zp × Zp.
ID:
357
Year: 2013
Name: Nathan Warnberg
Institution: Iowa State University
Subject area(s): Combinatorial Matrix Theory
Title of Talk: Graph Forcing Games
Abstract: Let G be a graph with some vertex set initially colored blue and the rest of the vertices colored white. The goal of the game is to color the entire graph blue, based on some a set of rules. Depending on which set of rules are used the minimum number of initial blue vertices needed to force the entire graph blue has implications for the minimum rank of the graph's corresponding matrix family. We will demonstrate some of these games and show the connections with the minimum rank problem.
Year: 2013
Name: Nathan Warnberg
Institution: Iowa State University
Subject area(s): Combinatorial Matrix Theory
Title of Talk: Graph Forcing Games
Abstract: Let G be a graph with some vertex set initially colored blue and the rest of the vertices colored white. The goal of the game is to color the entire graph blue, based on some a set of rules. Depending on which set of rules are used the minimum number of initial blue vertices needed to force the entire graph blue has implications for the minimum rank of the graph's corresponding matrix family. We will demonstrate some of these games and show the connections with the minimum rank problem.
ID:
149
Year: 2006
Name: Zhongming WANG
Institution: Iowa State University
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: computing multivalued velocity and electric field of 1D Euler-Poisson equation
Abstract: We develop a level set method for the computation of multi-valued velocity and electric fields of one-dimensional Euler-Poisson equations. The sys- tem of these equations arises in the semiclassical approximation of Schrodinger- Poisson equations and semiconductor modeling. This method uses an implicit Eulerian formulation in an extended space | called field space, which incorpo- rates both velocity and electric fields into the configuration space. Multi-valued velocity and electric fields are captured through common zeros of two level set functions, which solve a linear homogeneous transport equation in the field space. Numerical examples are presented to validate the proposed level set method.
Year: 2006
Name: Zhongming WANG
Institution: Iowa State University
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: computing multivalued velocity and electric field of 1D Euler-Poisson equation
Abstract: We develop a level set method for the computation of multi-valued velocity and electric fields of one-dimensional Euler-Poisson equations. The sys- tem of these equations arises in the semiclassical approximation of Schrodinger- Poisson equations and semiconductor modeling. This method uses an implicit Eulerian formulation in an extended space | called field space, which incorpo- rates both velocity and electric fields into the configuration space. Multi-valued velocity and electric fields are captured through common zeros of two level set functions, which solve a linear homogeneous transport equation in the field space. Numerical examples are presented to validate the proposed level set method.
ID:
220
Year: 2008
Name: Zhongming WANG
Institution: Iowa State University
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Bloch Band Based Level Set Method for the Schrodinger Equation
Abstract: We develop a Bloch band based level set method for capturing the semiclassical limit of one-dimensional Schrodinger equations in periodic medium. A hybrid of the WKB approximation and homogenization leads to the Bloch eigenvalue problem and an associated Hamilton-Jacobi system for the phase, with Hamiltonian being the Bloch eigenvalues. Following the level set methodology , we develop a Bloch band based level set method, which are hybrid numerical schemes -- splitting the solution process into several parts: i) band decomposition of the initial data and construction of the initial level set function; ii) solve the Bloch eigenvalue problem; iii) evolve the band level set equation to compute multi-valued velocity and density on each Bloch band; iv)the total position density over a sample set of bands is evaluated using Bloch waves and band densities obtained in step ii) and iii), respectively. Numerical results with different number of bands are provided to demonstrate the good quality of the method.
Year: 2008
Name: Zhongming WANG
Institution: Iowa State University
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Bloch Band Based Level Set Method for the Schrodinger Equation
Abstract: We develop a Bloch band based level set method for capturing the semiclassical limit of one-dimensional Schrodinger equations in periodic medium. A hybrid of the WKB approximation and homogenization leads to the Bloch eigenvalue problem and an associated Hamilton-Jacobi system for the phase, with Hamiltonian being the Bloch eigenvalues. Following the level set methodology , we develop a Bloch band based level set method, which are hybrid numerical schemes -- splitting the solution process into several parts: i) band decomposition of the initial data and construction of the initial level set function; ii) solve the Bloch eigenvalue problem; iii) evolve the band level set equation to compute multi-valued velocity and density on each Bloch band; iv)the total position density over a sample set of bands is evaluated using Bloch waves and band densities obtained in step ii) and iii), respectively. Numerical results with different number of bands are provided to demonstrate the good quality of the method.
ID:
281
Year: 2010
Name: Henry Walker
Institution: Grinnell College
Subject area(s): Placement,
Title of Talk: A System to Place Incoming Students in Computer Science, Mathematics and Statistics
Abstract: Joint work with Andrew Hirakawa and Russel Steinbach. Colleges utilize various methods of placing students, but many methods are time intensive, have limited scope, or lack precision. The placement system described here resolves many of these issues using a PHP based inference engine with extensively-researched rules. The system's placements compare favorably with those created manually by faculty, and students perform well in the system-recommended courses. Scripts store placements in a MySQL database and later generate individual LaTeX-based letter for each student. The scripts from this project run efficiently, follow established software-engineering principles, and are easily modifiable. The project automates every step of the process from loading student data into the database to generating individual letters for students.
Year: 2010
Name: Henry Walker
Institution: Grinnell College
Subject area(s): Placement,
Title of Talk: A System to Place Incoming Students in Computer Science, Mathematics and Statistics
Abstract: Joint work with Andrew Hirakawa and Russel Steinbach. Colleges utilize various methods of placing students, but many methods are time intensive, have limited scope, or lack precision. The placement system described here resolves many of these issues using a PHP based inference engine with extensively-researched rules. The system's placements compare favorably with those created manually by faculty, and students perform well in the system-recommended courses. Scripts store placements in a MySQL database and later generate individual LaTeX-based letter for each student. The scripts from this project run efficiently, follow established software-engineering principles, and are easily modifiable. The project automates every step of the process from loading student data into the database to generating individual letters for students.
ID:
334
Year: 2012
Name: Henry Walker
Institution: Grinnell College
Subject area(s): MAA CUPM Subcommittee Status Report
Title of Talk: MAA Program Study Group on Computer Science and Computational Science
Abstract: The MAA CUPM currently is working on a revision of its curricular recommendations for undergraduate programs and departments. As part of this effort, CUPM has appointed several Program Study Groups to explore how mathematics programs might support and collaborate with programs in other areas. Topics for consideration include supporting courses, minors, double majors, and other interdisciplinary opportunities. This session will review the current activities of the MAA Program Study Group on Computer Science and Computational Science. Feedback from the session attendees will be sought to help clarify what types of information might be helpful within a forthcoming Study Group report.
Year: 2012
Name: Henry Walker
Institution: Grinnell College
Subject area(s): MAA CUPM Subcommittee Status Report
Title of Talk: MAA Program Study Group on Computer Science and Computational Science
Abstract: The MAA CUPM currently is working on a revision of its curricular recommendations for undergraduate programs and departments. As part of this effort, CUPM has appointed several Program Study Groups to explore how mathematics programs might support and collaborate with programs in other areas. Topics for consideration include supporting courses, minors, double majors, and other interdisciplinary opportunities. This session will review the current activities of the MAA Program Study Group on Computer Science and Computational Science. Feedback from the session attendees will be sought to help clarify what types of information might be helpful within a forthcoming Study Group report.
ID:
439
Year: 2016
Name: Henry Walker
Institution: Grinnell College
Subject area(s): Pedagogy, collaborative learning, student engagement
Title of Talk: A Lab-based Pedagoy that Emphasizes Collaboration
Abstract: Following pedagogy pioneered by mathematician Eugene Herman at Grinnell College, this talk describes my experiences with a lab-based pedagogy in which students work collaboratively in pairs for each class session. As an instructor, I lecture about 4 hours per month, usually in 5-10 minute mini-lectures. Elements of this approach have been studied extensively by others to show effectiveness. Further, my own experience shows I can cover about 20% more material with this pedagogy over a traditional format, and test scores are better. Since this talk will focus upon pedagogy, the talk will largely be content-free.
Year: 2016
Name: Henry Walker
Institution: Grinnell College
Subject area(s): Pedagogy, collaborative learning, student engagement
Title of Talk: A Lab-based Pedagoy that Emphasizes Collaboration
Abstract: Following pedagogy pioneered by mathematician Eugene Herman at Grinnell College, this talk describes my experiences with a lab-based pedagogy in which students work collaboratively in pairs for each class session. As an instructor, I lecture about 4 hours per month, usually in 5-10 minute mini-lectures. Elements of this approach have been studied extensively by others to show effectiveness. Further, my own experience shows I can cover about 20% more material with this pedagogy over a traditional format, and test scores are better. Since this talk will focus upon pedagogy, the talk will largely be content-free.
ID:
440
Year: 2016
Name: Henry Walker
Institution: Grinnell College
Subject area(s): Pedagogy, collaborative learning, student engagement
Title of Talk: A Lab-based Pedagoy that Emphasizes Collaboration
Abstract: Following pedagogy pioneered by mathematician Eugene Herman at Grinnell College, this talk describes my experiences with a lab-based pedagogy in which students work collaboratively in pairs for each class session. As an instructor, I lecture about 4 hours per month, usually in 5-10 minute mini-lectures. Elements of this approach have been studied extensively by others to show effectiveness. Further, my own experience shows I can cover about 20% more material with this pedagogy over a traditional format, and test scores are better. Since this talk will focus upon pedagogy, the talk will largely be content-free.
Year: 2016
Name: Henry Walker
Institution: Grinnell College
Subject area(s): Pedagogy, collaborative learning, student engagement
Title of Talk: A Lab-based Pedagoy that Emphasizes Collaboration
Abstract: Following pedagogy pioneered by mathematician Eugene Herman at Grinnell College, this talk describes my experiences with a lab-based pedagogy in which students work collaboratively in pairs for each class session. As an instructor, I lecture about 4 hours per month, usually in 5-10 minute mini-lectures. Elements of this approach have been studied extensively by others to show effectiveness. Further, my own experience shows I can cover about 20% more material with this pedagogy over a traditional format, and test scores are better. Since this talk will focus upon pedagogy, the talk will largely be content-free.
ID:
441
Year: 2016
Name: Henry Walker
Institution: Grinnell College
Subject area(s): Course Syllabi and Online Materials
Title of Talk: Using a Database to Support a Course Home Page, Syllabus, Schedule, and Other Online Materials
Abstract: With static Web pages for a course, posting of daily readings, assignments, etc. requires either constant editing of pages or a search for materials relevant for each given day. Further, adjustments in time allocated for one topic likely requires manual changes in several days that follow. As a result, modifications in a course to accomodate student needs are labor intensive and consistency of schedules can be troublesome. Use of a database behind the scenes resolves many of these maintenance challenges. A student going to a course home page can view the assignments for the previous day, current day, and next day, together with a statement of the next course deadlines. Links to readings and assignments can be dynamic — automatically updated daily. Adjustments to course schedules can be made with the click of just a few buttons. Part of the talk will include a demonstration of a sample dynamic format for a current course. (Development of this type of course interface might make an interesting assignment for one or more computing students!)
Year: 2016
Name: Henry Walker
Institution: Grinnell College
Subject area(s): Course Syllabi and Online Materials
Title of Talk: Using a Database to Support a Course Home Page, Syllabus, Schedule, and Other Online Materials
Abstract: With static Web pages for a course, posting of daily readings, assignments, etc. requires either constant editing of pages or a search for materials relevant for each given day. Further, adjustments in time allocated for one topic likely requires manual changes in several days that follow. As a result, modifications in a course to accomodate student needs are labor intensive and consistency of schedules can be troublesome. Use of a database behind the scenes resolves many of these maintenance challenges. A student going to a course home page can view the assignments for the previous day, current day, and next day, together with a statement of the next course deadlines. Links to readings and assignments can be dynamic — automatically updated daily. Adjustments to course schedules can be made with the click of just a few buttons. Part of the talk will include a demonstration of a sample dynamic format for a current course. (Development of this type of course interface might make an interesting assignment for one or more computing students!)
ID:
201
Year: 2007
Name: Henry Walker
Institution: Grinnell College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Ethics and Standards
Abstract: The MAA Committee on the Profession (CotP) has been asked by the MAA Board of Governors to draft a Statement of Ethics Standards. This talk will provide an overview to the work on this project and encourage reactions to the current working draft.
Year: 2007
Name: Henry Walker
Institution: Grinnell College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Ethics and Standards
Abstract: The MAA Committee on the Profession (CotP) has been asked by the MAA Board of Governors to draft a Statement of Ethics Standards. This talk will provide an overview to the work on this project and encourage reactions to the current working draft.
ID:
53
Year: 2004
Name: Stephen Walk
Institution: St. Cloud State University
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Avoiding Paradoxes in Joker Poker
Abstract: If we add a Joker to an ordinary deck of cards, we'll find that the three-of-a-kind hands are more prevalent than the two-pair hands. (By convention, the Joker is always interpreted to make the hand's rank as high as possible.) Since the two-pair hands are rarer, by all rights they should outrank the threes-of-a-kind. But if the ranking is redone so that two-pair hands rank higher, then some of the Joker hands have to be interpreted as two-pair hands instead of threes-of-a-kind, and as a result the two-pair hands are again more prevalent than threes-of-a-kind. There is simply no consistent way to rank the poker hands in this Joker deck. It's enough to make Bret Maverick spin in his grave. \par What if we don't confine ourselves to the ordinary deck? Is it possible to find a deck that avoids paradoxes like the one above? Yes! Is it \emph{easy} to avoid paradoxes? Sure---if the deck is big enough. This talk will include the results of an investigation into this situation as well as a few details about the methodology. Only decks of size smaller than one million are considered; bigger decks become somewhat difficult to shuffle.
Year: 2004
Name: Stephen Walk
Institution: St. Cloud State University
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Avoiding Paradoxes in Joker Poker
Abstract: If we add a Joker to an ordinary deck of cards, we'll find that the three-of-a-kind hands are more prevalent than the two-pair hands. (By convention, the Joker is always interpreted to make the hand's rank as high as possible.) Since the two-pair hands are rarer, by all rights they should outrank the threes-of-a-kind. But if the ranking is redone so that two-pair hands rank higher, then some of the Joker hands have to be interpreted as two-pair hands instead of threes-of-a-kind, and as a result the two-pair hands are again more prevalent than threes-of-a-kind. There is simply no consistent way to rank the poker hands in this Joker deck. It's enough to make Bret Maverick spin in his grave. \par What if we don't confine ourselves to the ordinary deck? Is it possible to find a deck that avoids paradoxes like the one above? Yes! Is it \emph{easy} to avoid paradoxes? Sure---if the deck is big enough. This talk will include the results of an investigation into this situation as well as a few details about the methodology. Only decks of size smaller than one million are considered; bigger decks become somewhat difficult to shuffle.
ID:
427
Year: 2015
Name: Julia Walk
Institution: University of Iowa
Subject area(s): Mathematical Biology
Title of Talk: Building a Model of the Effects of Multiple Myeloma on Kidney Function
Abstract: Multiple myeloma is a type of plasma cell cancer associated with many health challenges, including damage to the kidney. When a patient's kidneys are damaged, waste builds up in the bloodstream and the body begins to shut down. We would like to model what happens as the cancer affects the proximal tubule cells in the kidney, to eventually create a model that doctors can use as a predictive tool to catch problems early. We will explore an initial model that captures the biology of the interaction between kidney cells and proteins produced by the myeloma cells. The discussion will emphasize the development of the model using power law approximations in a system of ODEs.
Year: 2015
Name: Julia Walk
Institution: University of Iowa
Subject area(s): Mathematical Biology
Title of Talk: Building a Model of the Effects of Multiple Myeloma on Kidney Function
Abstract: Multiple myeloma is a type of plasma cell cancer associated with many health challenges, including damage to the kidney. When a patient's kidneys are damaged, waste builds up in the bloodstream and the body begins to shut down. We would like to model what happens as the cancer affects the proximal tubule cells in the kidney, to eventually create a model that doctors can use as a predictive tool to catch problems early. We will explore an initial model that captures the biology of the interaction between kidney cells and proteins produced by the myeloma cells. The discussion will emphasize the development of the model using power law approximations in a system of ODEs.
ID:
267
Year: 2009
Name: Martha Ellen Waggoner
Institution: Simpson College
Subject area(s): Teaching
Title of Talk: Using Toilet Paper to Help Students Make Generalizations
Abstract: When students are given a specific problem to solve, they do not naturally create a general solution method that could be applied in other situations. In this presentation, I will discuss a project that I use to help students learn the value of generalization and give them an introduction to sensitivity testing. The project starts by having students find the number of sheets of paper on a specific sealed roll of toilet paper, but they must take that method and produce a formula that could find the number of sheets of paper on a general roll of perforated paper. They then test the various models created by the class for sensitivity to measurement error to find the
Year: 2009
Name: Martha Ellen Waggoner
Institution: Simpson College
Subject area(s): Teaching
Title of Talk: Using Toilet Paper to Help Students Make Generalizations
Abstract: When students are given a specific problem to solve, they do not naturally create a general solution method that could be applied in other situations. In this presentation, I will discuss a project that I use to help students learn the value of generalization and give them an introduction to sensitivity testing. The project starts by having students find the number of sheets of paper on a specific sealed roll of toilet paper, but they must take that method and produce a formula that could find the number of sheets of paper on a general roll of perforated paper. They then test the various models created by the class for sensitivity to measurement error to find the
ID:
273
Year: 2010
Name: Martha Ellen Waggoner
Institution: Simpson College
Subject area(s): linear algebra, teaching
Title of Talk: Linear Algebra: When am I ever going to use this?
Abstract: I tell my students that linear algebra is the most useful mathematical subject they will take, and of course, they expect me to support that claim. In this talk I will discuss applications that I use in both Linear Algebra and Mathematical Modeling that require matrix operations. I will focus on the difference between a forward problem and an inverse problem. The subject areas will include games, historical geography, and ray-based tomography.
Year: 2010
Name: Martha Ellen Waggoner
Institution: Simpson College
Subject area(s): linear algebra, teaching
Title of Talk: Linear Algebra: When am I ever going to use this?
Abstract: I tell my students that linear algebra is the most useful mathematical subject they will take, and of course, they expect me to support that claim. In this talk I will discuss applications that I use in both Linear Algebra and Mathematical Modeling that require matrix operations. I will focus on the difference between a forward problem and an inverse problem. The subject areas will include games, historical geography, and ray-based tomography.