2009 Mathematics Educator Appreciation Day
Conference Sessions

There are three session time slots. Choose 1 session from each group.

Session 2     9:40 - 10:35 AM (55 minutes)

B21	Session: Audience/Level: Presenters: Description:	UA Math Placement Goes Global: Unveiling the New Online Placement System General Interest Tina Schuster and Tina Deemer, UA Starting in May 2009, the University of Arizona Department of Mathematics will begin using a new placement test. ALEKS (Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces) is a web-based program that will allow students to assess on their own time, and without time constraints. This program will also provide a fee-based mechanism for students to remediate, if they would like to improve their scores. We will provide an overview of the new placement structure, an introduction to the ALEKS tools, and answer any of your questions about the changes. Be there for the ushering in of a new placement age.
B22	Session: Audience/Level: Presenter: Description: computer lab	Watchout you may be in my next ScreenCast! General Interest Robert Foth, Pima CC I will discuss technology that can be used to help communicate with students via the web by creating quick and easy videos to share with students. The main focus will be to look at a couple of free choices when it comes to creating a screencast and how they can be used to help save time in the class and prepare students for exams. The big plus is once you create one of these videos you can reuse them year after year or even in different courses!
B23	Session: Audience/Level: Presenter: Description:	The Power of M General Interest Lou Montiel, Holt McDougal The Power of M shows how to use educational technology to help students Mbark on a Motivating journey in Math that will help them Mbrace Math, Mprove on tests and Mpower teachers. The presentation will highlight HoltMcDougal technology. Free giveaways.
B24	Session: Audience/Level: Presenters: Description:	SMART Board Basics for Math Teachers General Interest Tamara Nicolosi, CCS Projects Join us for an overview of basic SMART Board tools for the math classroom. This session is designed for new or beginner SMART Board users.
B25	Session: Audience/Level: Presenter: Description:	You Are The Agent For Change You Always Wanted To Be, Really!....or How To Move From Being Someone Who Teaches Kids To Being Someone Who Helps Kids Learn. This session is full as of Jan. 15, please select an alternate session. General Interest Dave Kukla, Sabino HS It’s our choice to rise to the challenge before us or wait until people make us and we feel burdened with another “outside” mandate.  There are all manner of winds of change that blow through math education, but this one has been on the scene for a while and is only gaining more power.  And it may just hold the key to our happiness as educators as well as to the success of our students.  We’ll talk about what I have in mind and your ideas for change and improvement, what can be done and what seems impossible.
B26	Session: Audience/Level: Presenter: Description:	This session has been cancelled.
B27	Session: Audience/Level: Presenter: Description:	Cryptography in the classroom: how does math keep me safe? Grades 9-12 Taliesin Sutton, UA In this talk I will discuss how the real world field of cryptography can be used to motivate students to study modular arithmetic, fundamental concepts in algebra, and data analysis.
B28	Session: Audience/Level: Presenter: Description:	Catalan Numbers- What Are Those? High School Mathematics Teachers Dr. Nate Carlson & Ginny Bohme, UA Join us for the inauguration of the Tucson Teachers' Circle for high school teachers. Participants will explore the beauty of the Catalan Numbers in an active, engaging environment and learn varied contexts in which they appear.
B29	Session: Audience/Level: Presenters: Description:	Nspire your students - New technology that is much more than just a graphing calculator Grades 9-12 Kimberley Thomas, Valley Vista HS Why would you encourage your students to purchase a TI-Nspire handheld instead of a TI-84 plus graphing calculator? This session will introduce the new TI-Nspire and how this handheld is changing instruction in the mathematics classroom. Math representations are dynamically linked and can be represented graphically,numerically,algebraically, geometrically, and verbally within one document. This handheld is much more than the old graphing calculator. Participants will experience using the TI-Nspire by exploring a few introductory problems. No previous technology experience required.
B30	Session: Audience/Level: Presenters: Description:	Frustrated Teaching Integers? We've got algebra tiles for you. Grades 6-9 Jean Tsuya, Math Instructional Coach Douglas Unified School District An introduction to Algebra Tiles--developing the rules for addition and subtraction of integers, working with algebraic expressions, multiplying and factoring algebraic expressions using the tiles, and solving one-variable equations.
B31	Session: Audience/Level: Presenter: Description:	Puzzling Through Fractions Grades 6-8 Donna Rishor, Gridley MS Participants will use Cuisenaire Rods and Pattern Blocks to help their students gain a deeper understanding of the construct of fraction and fractional representation using fun higher order thinking puzzles.
B32	Session: Audience/Level: Presenter: Description:	Getting Students to Talk about "Algebra" This session is full as of Jan. 20, please select an alternate session. Algebra Barbara C. Armenta, Pima CC Students learn best when they are not merely receiving facts and instruction, but are actively grappling with concepts and engaging in discussions of the material. Talking to Learn Concepts are questions designed to start the discussions. Each participant will receive a disk with Questions (approx 150) in both Smart Board and Power Point format. This workshop is designed to introduce the material and demonstrate how to get your Algebra 1 (and Algebra II) students engaged in peer discussions.
B33	Session: Audience/Level: Presenter: Description:	Make it Real! Fun investigations for Algebra This session is full as of Jan. 20, please select an alternate session. Algebra Jennifer North Morris, Consultant Come experience algebra through real world investigations. Make mathematics meaningful and fun for all your students.
B34	Session: Audience/Level: Presenter: Description:	CME Project: Hands-on Mathematics for High School Students Geometry Scott Skene, Pearson Learning The CME Project offers you an innovative FNS (National Science Foundation curriculum wrapped around a familiar course sequence of Algebra 1, Geometery, Algebra 2 and Precalculus. The CME Project meets the dual goal of mathematical rigor and accessibility for all students. It acheives these goals through a balance of traditional and student-centered instructional elements. Come and experience CME Project ...
B35	Session: Audience/Level: Presenter: Description:	Functions Defined as Definite Integrals - A Geometric Approach Calculus Bruce MacMillan, UA A functions that is defined as a definite integral is a very difficult, but important, concept for calculus students to understand. We will take a geometric approach to understand these "area functions" to help our students grasp this topic. Bring your graphing calculator!

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Session 3     10:50-11:45 AM (55 minutes)

C41	Session: Audience/Level: Presenter: Description:	Developing Questions for Inquiry Based Learning (a workshop) General Interest Dr. David Lomen, UA Many instructors are using questions in their classroom to implement some form of "inquiry based learning" using either classroom voting or just discussion. (ConcepTests that we have developed for Algebra and Calculus are examples of such questions.) Some of the ways these questions are used are as 1. An introduction to a topic 2. A check on student mastery of a topic 3. A review of a topic. After considering some principles and examples of such questions for algebra and calculus, we will work in groups developing questions for whatever classes the participants desire.
C42	Session: Audience/Level: Presenter: Description:	Why Johnny and his Parents Won't Think and What we can do about it. This session is full as of Dec. 17, please select an alternate session. General Interest Dr. Steve Willoughby, UA Professor Emeritus Most people resist thinking mathematically and as a result lead less productive and less pleasant lives than they might. Mathematics education through history has been largely responsible for this. We will participate in activities and games that encourage students to become proficient in traditional basic skills along with higher order thinking skills and develop a positive attitude towards learning and using mathematics.
C43	Session: Audience/Level: Presenter: Description:	3rd and 4th Year Math Options This session is full as of Jan. 15, please select an alternate session. General Interest Scott Skene, Pearson Learning Looking to meet the new 4-Year High School Math Requirements ... but don't exactly know what is available? We would love to share with you some of the awesome resources available from Pearson Education! Improve student abilities in Problem-Solving, provide meaningful context for math using Guided Discovery Activities, apply practical mathematics learning in the areas of Personal Finance, Consumer Mathematics, Voting and Apportionment. Great options to provide for those students who are not going to be mathematics majors ... but need to meet the state credit requirements! Free Samples will be provided!
C44	Session: Audience/Level: Presenter: Description:	iTEACH (Interactive Technology to Engage and Assess Children) General Interest Michael Herzog, City HS iTEACH (Interactive Technology to Engage and Assess Children) will introduce you to the use of classroom response systems. These can be a set of hand-held remote controls like SMART Technology's Senteo system or can be done with text messaging using student's cell phones. This technology is very easy to learn and deploy. Students love using these systems (engagement) and they allow you to immediately assess student comprehension. Additional benefits include a reduction in the use of paper and grading of papers.
C45	Session: Audience/Level: Presenters: Description:	SMART Beyond the Basics for Math Teachers This session is full as of Jan. 12, please select an alternate session. General Interest Tamara Nicolosi, CCS Projects This session will explore the advanced features of the SMART Board for experienced users.
C46	Session: Audience/Level: Presenter: Description:	Math & Bio 2020 - A Clear Vision for the Future? General Interest Dr. Joe Watkins, UA Raising the level of training in quantitative skills for undergraduate students majoring in the life sciences has become a national imperative. The Mathematics and Computer Science Panel Summary to the National Research Council study, BIO 2010: Transforming Undergraduate Education for Future Research Biologists. “The panel suggested that all biology majors … should be exposed to and develop a conceptual understanding for the idea of rate of change, modeling, equilibria and stability, structure of a system, interactions among components, data and measurement, stochasticity, visualizing, and algorithms.
C47	Session: Audience/Level: Presenter: Description:	Interesting Exploratory Problems From The Tucson Math Circle This session is full as of Jan. 22, please select an alternate session. General Interest Matthew Thomas, UA We will present two or three interesting exploratory problems which we've used in the Tucson Math Circle. These problems are suitable and appealing to students of many ages and mathematics levels. One of the problems requires the students to figure out a card trick.
C48	Session: Audience/Level: Presenter: Description:	Unpacking the PRIME Equity Principle by the National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics (NCSM). General Interest Linda Fulmore, NCSM 2nd Vice-President The PRIME Leadership Framework outlines adult actions necessary to ensure high achievement for every student. This session focuses on the Equity Principle. Copies of the National Council of Supervisor's of Mathematics' (NCSM) Equity Position Paper and PRIME Executive Summary will be available.
C49	Session: Audience/Level: Presenter: Description:	The Great Venn of Content Intentionality and Outcomes. The Proof is in the student work. Grades K-8 Marco Ramirez, Pueblo Gardens This presentation will examine student work as evidence of the intended outcomes of instruction. While all students present challenges for learning mathematics, the work shown will illustrate student work from children of poverty and second language learners. The discussion will revolve around the intentional efforts needed to secure the outcomes desired while using our curriclum to navigate the mathematics taught.
C50	Session: Audience/Level: Presenter: Description:	Three steps to Heaven FFB, A, M Grades 6-8 Virginia DeRoma-Wentzel, Amphi MS The dilema of what to teach the falling far behind students through out the school year to make them world ready and yet pass the AIMS test impacts our teaching, for the good or not. This is true in all subjects, today's focus is Math. Throughout the years the question of which approach is most effective has been pondered. This session will discuss my finding and ellicit finding from the audience . In the end we will summerize and set forth a plan with the promising practices that will be most effective.
C51	Session: Audience/Level: Presenter: Description:	Great Expectations- Probabilities in Action! Middle School Mathematics Teachers Dr. Nate Carlson & Ginny Bohme, UA Explore probability applications in several contexts and learn how expected values influence your insurance rates. This session is sponsored by the Tucson Teachers' Circle for middle school teachers. Learn about this group that meets once per month for dinner and mathematics exploration.
C52	Session: Audience/Level: Presenter: Description:	GNAWing at Mathematics Algebra Judy Hicks, Ralston Valley H.S.(retired) Come and experience the multi-representations that can be done in the Mathematics Classroom using TI-Nspire. Participants will walk away with activities that look at a problem in a Graphical, Numerical, Algebraic and Written way. Activities will primarily be for the Algebra 1 and 2, and Geometry classrooms.
C53	Session: Audience/Level: Presenter: Description:	Solving Systems of Linear Equations Using Geometry Constructions Algebra/Geometry Paulette Livio-Velez, Pueblo Magnet HS This lesson addresses differentiated instruction, and uses SIOP Strategies. Students will work in teams to solve Systems of Linear Equations, estimating the solution with Geometry Constructions.
C54	Session: Audience/Level: Presenters: Description:	A Look At Spherical Trigonometry This session is canceled, please select an alternate session. Geometry Donna Krawczyk, UA
C55	Session: Audience/Level: Presenters: Description:	Understanding the Statistics Behind Voting Polls Statistics/Data Analysis Dr. Walter Piegorsch, UA Although the 2008 Presidential Election is now behind us, some may recall statements such as "43% of likely voters support Sen. John McCain for president, with a margin of error of 3%" and wonder just what that meant. We'll tell you, and illustrate a basic understanding behind the modern statistical methods that represent quantifications such as this.
C56	Session: Audience/Level: Presenters: Description:	Is Math Teaching in Your Future? Students- HS & PCC Dr. Fred Stevenson, Kathie Miller, Steven Martinez,Kim Wojtak This is a very special session designed specifically for promising high school seniors and Pima College students who have been identified as potentially great future math teachers. The session will be conducted by UA mathematics professor Fred Stevenson, UA's Kim Wojtak, and Challenger Middle School's Steven Martinez who will lead a discussion about this exciting career choice. Programs at the University as well as scholarship opportunities will be highlighted. Everyone will be involved as we analyze the many possibilities that a degree in Math Education offers.
C57	Session: Audience/Level: Presenters: Description:	An Easy 21st Century Student-Centered tool your class can’t be without: Wiki’s for everyone. Middle and High School Teachers Cara Grasson, Sabino HS This presentation will show teachers what a Wiki is and how it can be used to make students partners in their learning using internet-based technology. The second half of the hour will be focused on helping teachers actually create one…it’s that easy. You won’t want to miss this.

Luncheon follows at the University Park Marriott     12:00-2:00 PM