Mathematical Modeling for Teachers
Based on the mathematics department's Mathematical Modeling course and the 2007 Arizona Summer Program on Mathematical Modeling, this initiative of assistant director Joceline Lega aims to help teachers connect real-world problems to mathematics, illustrating the central role of mathematics in science and providing them with topics and teaching materials they can use in their own classes.
About the project
We plan to develop online modules to support activities for teacher professional development and for K–12 classrooms, drawing from issues of current interest described in newspapers and popular scientific journals. The goal of each activity is to understand a phenomenon by means of modeling, elementary mathematical analysis, and simulations.
Topics under development
- Collective behaviors (The New York Times)
- Voting (Math Awareness Month, 2008)
- If you are in a hurry, is it better to wait for a bus or walk? (The New Statesman)
- Investing (The Wall Street Journal)