It’s the first day of Spring quarter 2023. So long Spring Break— I hardly knew you. All of the faculty colleagues I saw today looked exhausted. With less than a week between Winter grade submission and the start of this quarter, there really was no rest for the weary. I had an impressive To-Do listContinue reading “March 27 Day 1114: Fresh Start”
Category Archives: teaching
March 9 Day 1096: Mathematical Relations
Yesterday afternoon, my #TacomaMath colleagues Jenn Crump, Ander Erickson, and I delivered a (virtual) professional development session for teachers in the Tacoma area. One of the activities was to graph our relationship to math over time. Some of the results are given below: Notice only one response had a wholly positive experience. Everyone else hadContinue reading “March 9 Day 1096: Mathematical Relations”
March 6 Day 1093: Where Were You?
It was three years ago today that UW President Ana Mari Cauce sent this email: The Friday morning message called for emergency remote teaching by the very next workday. The speed of the transition was dizzying. I was on a writing retreat at Pack Forest with a handful of my Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences colleagues.Continue reading “March 6 Day 1093: Where Were You?”
January 29 Day 1057: Paper vs iPad grading
I spent at least 7 hours grading today—mostly exams on paper and some homework files submitted electronically. All of it was for students in the same class. First observation: When did everyone’s handwriting become so illegible? Second observation: Why do I think my tricks to decipher handwriting on the iPad will work on paper? IContinue reading “January 29 Day 1057: Paper vs iPad grading”
December 31 Day 1028: Here’s to 2022
The last day of the year brings reflections on the past and hopes for the future. It was a good year with a rough start and a whirlwind finish. The delta and omicron strains of COVID required pivoting from our plans for a return to normal. But by summer, travel was back in full forceContinue reading “December 31 Day 1028: Here’s to 2022”
December 27 Day 1024: I promise I’m trying
One week until the start of classes for Winter 2023. I get up in the morning and think “this is the day I will accomplish what I need to be ready to teach.” By the evening I feel further behind than when I started. I know I got things accomplished but I want time withContinue reading “December 27 Day 1024: I promise I’m trying”
December 2 Day 999: Mathematical Cooperation
It was a full day’s meeting at the Conference Board of the Mathematical Sciences. Presidents, Executive Directors, and friends of 19 different mathematics organizations met to work together and support each other in their efforts to promote research, improve education, and expand the uses of mathematics. It’s a great group of people and I amContinue reading “December 2 Day 999: Mathematical Cooperation”
November 19 Day 986: A Few AMATYC Highlights
The conference is continuing for another day but I am heading back this evening. There was plenty of positive math energy but here are some things I particularly want to remember. Indian food last night with April Strom, Chris Rasmussen, and Peter Liljedahl followed by the second half of the AMATYC Ignite event. For theContinue reading “November 19 Day 986: A Few AMATYC Highlights”
November 18 Day 985: Kudos for Flexibility
I want to acknowledge the persistence of my friend April Strom and the Teaching for Prowess Team. Even though it seems nothing was going right this morning, they made things work. Pivot number 1: The hotel wouldn’t allow anything on the walls. No tape, no blue tape, no static clings, nothing. The plan was toContinue reading “November 18 Day 985: Kudos for Flexibility”
November 17 Day 984: Hello Toronto!
I arrived after a restless night of travel. It’s brisk with a little snow on the ground. I took it easy today. Coffee at Tim Hortons, a session on active learning, a lovely keynote by Peter Liljedahl, and a meal sharing small plates with friends, both old and new. Quick lessons from the day: NotContinue reading “November 17 Day 984: Hello Toronto!”
Math in the Time of Corona 