1997 ProfPlan memo

1. Conference Report
To: Peter K. Lynch, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum
From:A. Jorge Garca, Teacher of Calculus and Comp Science
Date: June 5, 1998
Re: LIMA€ON 98
cc: BSHS Mathematics Department
Background:
The Long Island MAthematics CONference, LIMA€ON, is given each
year at SUNY Old Westbury. This conference has grown to include experts in
every field of Mathematics education and research at every level from all
over the globe.
Observations:
I was fortunate enough to spend the day in a workshop with the
keynote speaker, Dr. Banchoff of Brown University. Dr. Banchoff is
known for his advances in n-space geometry (4D, 5D, …).
His talk centered on interactive teaching techniques in
Mathematics education via the Internet. His website at Brown
University includes an ‘art gallery’ of the work he and his students
have accomplished over the years. The website also hosts the
interactive portion of his classes. Not only are syllabi and assignments
listed, but the students may submit their homework to a ListServ and
the assignments are graded via email. Debate between the students
and the teacher is encouraged 24 hours a day and 7 days a week in
this medium. The students find the method of instruction most
motivating actually learning, reading, writing, studying and thinking
in math more than ever.
Recommendations:
Cable modems or a live T1 connection to the Internet in Lab 429
would greatly facilitate the use of interactive web content in our
Mathematics classes.
h:limacon98.mem.doc