CUPM Subcommittee on Calculus Reform and the First Two Years (CRAFTY)
Below you will find the first portion of minutes of our summer meeting in
Toronto. The meeting was Chaired by Susan Ganter; these minutes were
prepared from notes Susan took at the meeting.
The majority of the meeting was spent on planning for the Tulane II
conference --- the notes on this topic will be sent in a separate
mailing.
CUPM Subcommittee on Calculus Reform and the First Two Years (CRAFTY)
Minutes, Toronto, Thursday, July 16, 1998, 12:45pm - 2:35pm
Notes produced by Susan Ganter
Further edited by Bill Barker
Attendance.
Committee members:
Susan Ganter (Acting Chair), Shelly Gordon, Martin Flashman
Visitors:
David Smith
(1) GENERAL DISCUSSION
It was reported that the AMS has a special session in the January
meetings in San Antonio organized by George Andrews, et al, dealing with
problems with the current reform efforts in mathematics education. How
this session will impact the various CRAFTY events in San Antonio is an
interesting question.
In Toronto Jerry Uhl talked on the changes needed in mathematics
education; there was a counter-presentation given by George Andrews. A
similar point-counterpoint presentation will be given by David Smith and
George Andrews at the International Congress of Mathematicians in
August. It was estimated that approximately 75% of audience (composed
primarily of SIAM meeting participants) supported GeorgeUs viewpoint,
i.e., agreed with his characterization of the problems with reform
courses and the student weaknesses that contribute to the waning
excellence in mathematics education. One positive aspect of the
discussion was a focus on faculty irresponsibility, i.e., research as
the sole driving force in university careers and the lack of rewards for
excellence in teaching.
Report on the ASEE meeting. Shelly Gordon organized a CRAFTY session on
calculus reform at the ASEE (American Society of Engineering Education)
at their annual meeting in Seattle this July. Martin Flashman and Wade
Ellis were the CRAFTY representatives. There were 15-20 people in
attendance. The meeting ended with a gathering of input from the
audience of engineers on what they desire out of calculus instruction
for their students. Wade Ellis took notes, perhaps for an article in
Focus.
Report on the International Conference on the Teaching of Mathematics.
This conference, held in Greece at the beginning of July, demonstrated
much convergence of philosophy at the international level: more focus on
concepts, less symbolic manipulation, similar weaknesses in preparation
of students for university mathematics, a growth of non-traditional
students, issues with technology. The trends seem to be similar
worldwide (78 nations represented). How much influence have reform
efforts in the U.S. had internationally? The answer was unclear.
(2) TULANE II
The remainder of the CRAFTY meeting was spent discussing plans for the
Tulane II conference. The revised Tulane II document to emerge from
these discussions will be circulated separately.
Please send suggestions for improvements and comments to Martin Flashman:flashman@axe.humboldt.edu