Department of Mathematics and Philosophy
Spring 2020 Conference
69th Annual Western Illinois University Mathematics Teachers' Conference
Common Core Mathematics: Developing Student Reasoning
Friday, April 17, 2020 - 8:30 a.m. - 2:50 p.m.
Keynote Speakers
We are pleased to announce that Drs. Melfried and Judy Olson will be our opening and closing speakers for the conference. They are life-long mathematics educators, including many, many years on the faculty at WIU.
Opening Speaker: Dr. Melfried Olson, Retired from University of Hawai’i and Professor Emeritus, Western Illinois University
Title:
What is/will be your story? A look at teachers and aspects of teaching that motivated their students.
Description: Who teachers are and what they do have an impact on student learning. Yet students of a teacher see that impact differently through their own eyes. However, some common pedagogical themes seem to emerge, such as engaging students in productive struggle by providing meaningful questions that give various opportunities for participation, listening to/for and supporting student reasoning and understanding, and employing multiple opportunities for assessment. These ideas will be highlighted by exploring several problems and examining associated student solutions.
Closing Speaker: Dr. Judith Olson, Retired from University of Hawai’i and Professor Emeritus, Western Illinois University
Title:
Vision 20/20: Ada Lovelace, Agent XX and beyond: Coding and a vision for tomorrow.
Description: Coding will likely find its way into mathematics classes. As mathematics educators, we have a responsibility to make this integration authentic, support mathematics instruction instead of undermining it, and provide access for all. Currently available opportunities for coding can be used in K - 12 mathematics instruction. Coding supports several Mathematical Practices, is intrinsically motivating, encourages abstract thinking, and is by nature a problem-solving endeavor. Coding can support students understanding of mathematics concepts as well as encourage students who may be interested in technology careers. The six programmers of the world’s first modern computer, the ENIAC, were all women. The past, current, and future roles of women will be discussed from Ada Lovelace, the first computer programmer, to current women in technology such as the developers of the educational game Agent XX where players encounter historical contributions of women in STEM.
Schedule
The 2020 Conference schedule will be posted here when it is available.
Parking
Participants can park in the Horrabin Hall lot (# 19 on the attached map, for faculty/staff). Parking Services know that you will be coming to the conference that day. They said that it's fine; they won't be ticketing. If you arrive and the Horrabin Hall lot is full, you can try the Currens Hall lot (# 20 on the map; parking map link at the left).
Professional Development Hours
Teachers sign the sign-in sheet at the registration table. Following the conference, go to the following link: to be determined and complete the online form. Detailed instructions. (The link is also in the folder.) You earn 6 PD hours for attending this conference.
Call for Speakers
We are accepting proposals for 2020, please consider filling out the submission form.
Breakout sessions are 35 minutes. Do you have ideas for teaching math that you would like to share?
Online Speaker Submission Form // Print Speaker Submission Form .
Registration
Online Registration Form // Print (PDF) Registration Form .
Mail payment to Western Illinois University, 1 University Circle, Department of Math & Philosophy, Macomb, IL 61455.
If you have questions, call (309)298-1054. (We do take walk-ins for this conference, but we prefer that attendees register in advance.)
Poster
Check back later for the Conference Poster.
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