Editor's note: The location for the event has changed. The event will be held in 106 McAllister Building.
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence will present the following free programming during the week of April 8.
“Closer to Fair: Math & Social Justice”
10 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 9, 106 McAllister Building, University Park
Presented by David Kung, professor of mathematics, St. Mary's College of Maryland
This interactive workshop will focus on two specific ways we can work to address issues of social justice both in our classrooms and in our world. The first half will focus on the college setting and the inequalities that pervade mathematics and science classrooms. Why do underrepresented students fail college math courses disproportionately, despite good preparation and strong motivation? What can we do about it? In the second half, we’ll tackle ways to help students view the world through a more mathematical lens, from racially skewed traffic stops to the mathematics of credit cards. A growing group of mathematicians teach “Math for Social Justice” courses that ask students to use the tools of mathematics to study, understand, and even address issues ranging from economic inequity to environmental impacts.
Register at https://www.schreyerinstitute.psu.edu/register/detail.aspx?id=12201.
“Creating a Vibrant and Inclusive Community”
1:30 to 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 9, 104 Thomas Building, University Park
Presented by David Kung, professor of mathematics, St. Mary's College of Maryland
All humans long to be accepted members of a community — including our students. In this interactive workshop, we'll look at success stories — the many ways programs have transformed themselves from being the unwelcoming gatekeepers of the STEM fields, to creating vibrant departments that welcome all students into the STEM community. No matter where you teach, you'll pick up tips and tricks for creating more cohesive (and successful) classes, departments and communities.
Register at: https://www.schreyerinstitute.psu.edu/register/detail.aspx?id=12202.
Innovative Teaching at Penn State Brown Bag Lunch Series: “Modernizing Introductory Statistics and Biostatistics: Changes and Results”
12:05 to 1:20 p.m. Thursday, April 11, Mann Assembly Room, Paterno Library and via Zoom
Presented by Kari Lock Morgan, assistant professor of statistics
Improvements to STAT 200 (Elementary Statistics) and STAT 250 (Introduction to Biostatistics) have led to dramatically improved scores on a national assessment of conceptual understanding (increases of 11 and 19 percentage points, respectively), impacting more than 6,000 students a year. This talk will discuss some of the changes, results and lessons learned. Changes include a new, simulation-based approach to statistical inference that more directly connects with the underlying concepts, new material on data visualization that exposes students to multivariable thinking, and, for STAT 250, the “question of the day” format that engages students by using statistics to address real scientific questions — some of which come from labs here at Penn State.
Box lunches will be provided for registered attendees.
For those unable to attend in person, the talk will be available via Zoom at https://psu.zoom.us/my/bill.goffe.
Register at https://www.schreyerinstitute.psu.edu/register/Multi-Item-Registration.aspx?ID=12161.
To register for these or any other Schreyer Institute events, visit https://www.schreyerinstitute.psu.edu/Events.