DMC Newsletter September 2006

The Developmental Mathematics Committee of AMATYC!

Chair’s Welcome by Jack Rotman

The focus of this newsletter is the annual conference … Cincinnati, November 2 to 5! However, there are issues for all of the members to consider, even if they are not able to attend the conference.

Tentative Agendas for the Committee Meetings (Cincinnati)

Thursday (Nov 2) Time: 11:15

Welcome, introductions

Review of our work

Presentation of proposed subcommittee structure

Subcommittee work time (15 minutes)

Friday (Nov 3) Time: 10:30

Welcome, introductions

Additional subcommittee work time (as needed)

Large group review, commitments, plans for year

What is the proposed subcommittee structure?

Subcommittee	Purpose
Instructional and Technology Issues	What classroom methods produce better learning or keep students motivated? What technology should be used in face-to-face or on-line? Focus on current issues in pedagogy Resources for faculty
Content, Assessment and Retention Issues	What should be emphasized? How should ‘math’ be assessed? How do we support under-represented students in our curriculum? Focus on current issues in content & retention
Faculty Development	What ‘training’ would help new faculty in the profession? What resources exist for continuing development? Should the DMC organize ‘Traveling Workshops in Developmental Mathematics”?

The subcommittees would have focus, but clearly need to collaborate. The three areas can not be truly separated. NOTE: This is simply the proposed structure … if you have input, please send them to me (rotmanj@lcc.edu) prior to the meetings in November.

Why does the DMC need subcommittees?

The basic reason … to be more effective in helping each other and our fellow professionals. At the current time, the DMC does not have any subcommittees. We have formed smaller groups during meetings at the conference to discuss specific issues, but those groups ‘disappeared’ right after the meeting. The subcommittee structure is meant to provide stability and focus; we also will be able to improve our communication with the other academic committees dealing with similar concerns.

Another reason is ‘leadership’. The DMC currently has a chair and vice-chair (who lacks a clear ‘charge’). The subcommittee structure will provide the committee with a chair and 3 subcommittee chairs; this allows more leadership opportunities.

A Piece of History … Revisited

The Executive Board is asking that each committee review older position and policy statements. For the DMC, this is the 1981 statement on “Teacher Qualifications for Developmental Mathematics”. To see the document, use this link http://amatyc.org/documents/Guidelines-Position/other-statements.htm#TeacherQualifications . This document was limited to courses up to the first algebra course, and also seems quite limited. One of the subcommittees will consider this statement and recommend action to be forwarded to the Executive Board.

Note that this statement was approved years before AMATYC adopted a general statement of qualifications (http://amatyc.org/documents/Guidelines-Position/GuidelinesforAcademic.htm) .

The Newsletter and Website

My main ‘concern’ about the Newsletter is that I don’t get to see anybody else’s work … so far, the newsletters have been just my ‘stuff’. The DMC is not well served by this situation. We need your contributions.

“Contributions” does not mean “hours of work”. A contribution might be 25 words describing a cool website you’ve found. A contribution might be 50 words recommended a book you’ve read recently (related to math education). A contribution might be 100 words outlining something that seems to “work” for your students in the classroom or online. Just send your contribution to rotmanj@lcc.edu.

The website is doing well. The Syllabus project has a page there … the Newsletters are posted … and there is an electronic DMC membership form. Like the Newsletter, you can send contributions to me!

DMC Membership Form

If you know of anybody who might be interested in joining our committee (and if they belong to AMATYC), they can go to our web page to complete a membership form: Link to Online F/DMC Membership Form

Future Newsletters

The chair (Jack Rotman) is currently editing the newsletter. If you want to get involved with this part of the committee work, send him a note.

The next DMC newsletter is likely to be sent during December 2006; submissions are welcome!!

Official Leadership of the Foundation/Developmental Mathematics Committee of AMATYC:

Chair Vice-Chair Liaison to AMATYC Executive Board

Jack Rotman Judy Giffin Irene Doo

send email to Jack send email to Judy send email to Irene

To Committee Home Page

To AMATYC Home Page

revised on September 25, 2006