News and events

  • Condolences to the family of Darrell Short

    Thursday, April 19, 2018 | By

    It is with profound sadness that the Department of Mathematics and Statistics wishes to let our students, former students and other members of the Brock community know that Darrell Short passed away on Tuesday April 17th at the age of 61. Darrell has been with us for over 37 years as a Teaching Assistant, helping and inspiring countless students in a multitude of courses. His contributions to the Department were immeasurable, touching the lives of students, faculty and staff members alike.

    The Department would like to extend its condolences to Darrell’s family. He will very much be missed by all of us. It simply won’t be the same place now that he has passed.

    Darrell’s obituary is available via this link.

  • OAME Golden Section Spring Conference

    Thursday, April 12, 2018 | By

    Golden Section of OAME, Brock University’s Faculty of Mathematics
    and Science, Faculty of Education, and Department of Mathematics

    present

    The OAME Golden Section Spring Conference

    Ahead by a Century . . . Strategies for Keeping You on the Cutting Edge

    Thursday April 19, 2018

    Session A: 4:00pm – 5:15pm

    A1: Teaching Mathematics Through Inquiry/Project Based Learning
    Presenter: Gillian Berard & Mary Vetere, NCDSB

    A2: The Great Escape!
    Presenter: Laura Cronshaw & Jaime Rootes, NCDSB

    A3: How Problem Solving Supports Differentiated Instruction in the Mathematics Classroom
    Presenter: Melissa Wigglesworth & Kim Cruise, NCDSB

    A3.14: Special Education Through the Lens of the Renewed Mathematics Strategy
    Presenter: Anthony DiToro, NCDSB

    A4: Creating a Thinking Classroom . . . One Step at a Time
    Presenters: Tricia Brenneman, Elizabeth Pattison, DSBN

    A5: Ideas for MAT 1LK and MAT 2LK
    Presenter: Pamela Chun, DSBN

    A6: A Fresh Look at Diagnostic Assessments (Grade 9)
    Presenter: Jeff Martin, NCDSB

    A7: I Want to Learn Geogebra . . . Help!!!
    Presenter: Angelo Lillo, DSBN

    Session B: 5:30pm – 6:45pm

    B1: Mathematics Through a Leadership Lens
    Presenter: Chris Moscato, NCDSB

    B2: Fractions in Pieces
    Presenters: Susan Ume, NCDSB

    B3: Growth Mindset in the Primary Mathematics Classroom
    Presenters: Luana Kent, NCDSB

    B4: Creating a Thinking Classroom . . . One Step at a Time
    Presenters: Tricia Brenneman & Elizabeth Pattison , DSBN

    B5: Strands? Expectations? Categories? How Do I Record Marks When I Spiral With Activities?
    Presenters: Alison Pridham & Deanna Ward , DSBN

    B6: Breaking Away from a Workbook in MEL3E/4E
    Presenter: Danielle Grebenc, DSBN

    B7: MCF3M – The Middle Child
    Presenter: Jennifer Corbett, DSBN

    Registration Information

    All registration will be done electronically at www.oame.on.ca/mcis

    Sign in, click on Choose Conference, then click on Online Registration for Golden Mini-Conference 2018.
    If you have questions regarding registration, please e-mail: liisa.suurtamm@dsbn.org
    Other questions can be directed to: elizabeth.pattison@dsbn.org or laura.cronshaw@ncdsb.com

    For more information, click for the full poster

  • Brock-NCDSB Computational Thinking in the Mathematics Classroom

    Wednesday, April 11, 2018 | By

    Brock-NCDSB Computational Thinking in the Mathematics Classroom

    April 20, 1:30pm – 3:30pm

    Brock University room TH 253

    We are happy to invite you to attend the Brock-NCDSB Computational Thinking in the Mathematics Classroom event at education which our MATH 3P41 future mathematics teachers will briefly present the programming-based mathematics tasks developed in collaboration with NCDSB teachers.

    This new collaborative initiative falls under the Ontario Ministry of Education-funded Mathematics Knowledge Network (http://mkn-rcm.ca), more particularly as part of the Computational Thinking group (http://mkn-rcm.ca/ct/). For Brock University, it is an experiential learning component newly integrated to one of its course offering (i.e. MATH 3P41).

    KEYNOTE by Dr George Gadanidis (UWO)

    Co-Director of Mathematics Knowledge Network and a Canadian leader in the area of computational
    thinking in school mathematics education.

    Poster

  • Math Ed Seminar Series @ Brock: Dr. Anjali Khirwadkar

    Monday, March 19, 2018 | By

    Math Ed Seminar Series @ Brock

    Season 2017- 2018

    Elementary School Mathematics Education in India:
    Implications for Teacher Training programs for
    Mathematics Teachers

    April 2 @ 10:00 in TA403

    Dr. Anjali Khirwadkar
    Faculty of Education (Brock University)

     

    Abstract: Education in India is undergoing a change as per the global demands and expectations
    from the future citizens. There are efforts to bring in quality in teaching Science, Mathematics in
    the country by harnessing the advantages of the technology. More recently, two prominent policies
    of the Indian government—the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) in 2001 and the Right to Education
    (RTE) Act, 2009 have seen education priorities rise amongst the countrymen. It is essential that
    children right in the primary and elementary stage develop interest in learning mathematics. It is
    the teacher who can bring change in inclination towards learning mathematics. This paper
    highlights some key factors to be considered in teacher preparation program in the country
    especially for training mathematics teachers.

    Poster

    For information, contact: Chantal Buteau: cbuteau@brocku.ca or Joyce Mgombelo: Joyce.Mgombelo@brocku.ca

  • Math Ed Seminar Series @ Brock: Dr. Joyce Mgombelo

    Saturday, March 10, 2018 | By

    Math Ed Seminar Series @ Brock

    Season 2017- 2018

    Collective Learning: Re-thinking the Environment, Artifacts and
    Classroom Interactions

    March 19 @ 10:00 in TA403

    Dr. Joyce Mgombelo
    Faculty of Education, Brock University

    Dr. Joyce Mgombelo is an Associate Professor of Mathematics Education at Brock University. Her
    research program focuses on: mathematics cognition; identity; and ethics- based on principles of
    human cognition. This work is developed from the theoretical perspectives of enactivism, complexity
    science and psychoanalysis. Mgombelo’s most recent work includes the SSHRC funded collaborative
    research projects, “Educating for the 21st Century: post-secondary students learning ‘progmatics’
    (computer programming for mathematical investigation, simulation, and real-world modeling)” and
    “Advancing research methodology in mathematics education for collective learning systems” as well
    as the Canada Global Affairs collaborative development project, “Capacity Development for
    mathematics teaching in rural and remote communities in Tanzania”

    Abstract: Over the past two decades, a group of Canadian Mathematics Education Study Group
    (CMESG) members have been working on understanding the ways in which mathematics learning
    occurs in classrooms viewed as collective systems. That is, how mathematics classrooms can be seen
    as complex systems in which agents spontaneously interact and adapt to each other, organizing and
    sustaining learning processes in a collaborative way. In this presentation I will offer a discussion about
    how artifacts such as classroom boards play a vital role in the coordination of behaviours or actions in
    a mathematics classroom viewed as a complex system. The source of inspiration for this discussion
    comes from studies in cognitive stigmergy which have led to a better understanding of how (human)
    agents in a complex system communicate indirectly through their environment which is articulated,
    and is typically composed of artifacts, which build up the social workspace, or field of work.

    All undergraduate(including teacher candidates) students, graduate students , and faculty, from Department of Mathematics and Statistics and the Faculty of Education are welcome!

    Poster

    For information, contact: Chantal Buteau: cbuteau@brocku.ca or Joyce Mgombelo: Joyce.Mgombelo@brocku.ca

  • Math Ed Seminar Series @ Brock: Dr. Mina Sedaghatjou

    Friday, February 02, 2018 | By

    Math Ed Seminar Series @ Brock

    Season 2017- 2018

    Finger Counting in the Era of Touchscreen-Based Technology

    12 February @ 10:00 in TA403

    Dr. Mina Sedaghatjou
    Faculty of Education, Brock University
    msedaghatjou@brocku.ca

    Mina is serving as an assistant professor (ILTA) in faculty of education at Brock University.
    Mina’s research reflects broad interests in the areas of mathematics and STEM education, and use
    of technology in teaching and learning augmented by the role of collaborative and sensory
    engagements. Mina is also serving as a research associate in STEM education and computational
    thinking in the Faculty of Education at Western University.

    Abstract: In this presentation, I will describe how the use of touchscreen-based technology can enable young children’s sensory engagement in learning mathematics through introducing a novel iPad application called TouchCounts. TouchCounts connects touchscreen-based technology with finger-counting and encourages the child to use their fingers to summon objects (numbers) and associate specific gestures to numerical operations. Drawing upon Nemirovsky’s perceptuomotor integration theoretical lens and other foundational aspects of Husserlian phenomenology, the study reports on a preschool child named Alex developing mathematical tool fluency and expertise. Overall, this case study demonstrates that one-on-one multimodal touch, sight and auditory feedback via a touchscreen device can serve to assist in a child’s development of number sense.

    All undergraduate(including teacher candidates) students, graduate students , and faculty, from Department of Mathematics and Statistics and the Faculty of Education are welcome!

    Poster

    For information, contact: Chantal Buteau: cbuteau@brocku.ca or Joyce Mgombelo: Joyce.Mgombelo@brocku.ca

  • Congratulations to Dr. Henryk Fuks and Dr. Mei-Ling Huang

    Friday, January 26, 2018 | By

    The Department of Mathematics and Statistics wishes to congratulate Dr. Mei-Ling Huang and Dr. Henryk Fuks. At the 2017-2018 Faculty of Mathematics and Science awards, Dr. Huang received the Dean’s Distinguished  Scholar Award. Dr. Fuks was awarded the Distinguished Research Award for Faculty. Congratulations to them both!

    For more details, please see the story in the Brock News.

  • Math Ed Seminar Series @ Brock: Dr. Abolfazl Rafiepour

    Wednesday, January 17, 2018 | By

    Math Ed Seminar Series @ Brock

    Season 2017- 2018

    Revisiting the Role of Common Sense in
    Mathematical Word Problem Solving

    Dr. Abolfazl Rafiepour

    Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman (Iran)
    Visiting Professor at Department of Mathematics and Statistics (Brock University)

    29 January @ 10:00 in TA403

    Dr. Abolfazl Rafiepour is an associate professor of mathematics education, in faculty of
    mathematics and computer, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Iran. He is a visiting scholar
    professor at Brock University. His special research interest is about modelling and application in
    domain of mathematics education. He taught several mathematics and mathematics education
    courses at the undergraduate and graduate level and has supervised more than 20 master students
    and one PhD student in the domain of mathematics education. He published more than 20 research
    papers. He also presents several papers in national and international conferences.

    Abstract: In this lecture, the role of mathematical word problem will be recognized in
    mathematics education and school mathematics textbooks. Then relation between mathematical
    word problem and modelling activities will be explained. Afterward “suspending of common
    sense in solving mathematical word problem” as a strange phenomenon will be described through
    several mathematical word problems as example. Finally, results of several research studies in this
    topic (which focused in different aspect such as students, teachers, math textbook) from different
    countries will be presented. Through these results, roots of “suspending common sense in solving
    mathematical word problem” will be identified in mathematics textbooks, mathematics teacher
    education and social norm of mathematics classrooms.

    All undergraduate(including teacher candidates) students, graduate students , and faculty, from Department of Mathematics and Statistics and the Faculty of Education are welcome!

    Poster

    For information, contact: Chantal Buteau: cbuteau@brocku.ca or Joyce Mgombelo: Joyce.Mgombelo@brocku.ca

  • Math Ed Seminar Series @ Brock

    Monday, December 18, 2017 | By

    Math Ed Seminar Series @ Brock

    Season 2017- 2018
    Mark your calendar!

    15 January @ 10:00 in TA403
    Dr. Chantal Buteau, Dr. Eric Muller
    Department of Mathematics and Statistics (Brock University)
    & Dr. Joyce Mgombelo
    Faculty of Education (Brock University)

    ‘Coding’ and mathematics: the students’ learning experience

    Seminar Poster

    29 January @ 10:00 in TA403
    Dr. Abolfazl Rafiepour
    Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman (Iran)
    Visiting Professor at Department of Mathematics and Statistics (Brock University)

    Revisiting the role of common sense in mathematical word problem solving

    12 February @ 10:00 in TA403
    Dr. Mina Sedaghatjou,
    Faculty of Education (Brock University)

    Finger counting in the Era of touchscreen-based technology

    19 March @ 10:00 in TA403
    Dr. Joyce Mgombelo
    Faculty of Education (Brock University)

    Title TBA

    Contact information and print version of the seminar list

  • Brock U research studies integrating computer programming into mathematics education

    Monday, December 11, 2017 | By

    When it’s raining outside and you want to stay as dry as possible, is it better to walk in the rain, or run?

    It’s a question that wouldn’t be tackled in traditional ‘paper and pencil’ undergraduate mathematics courses, but educators at Brock University are teaching their students how to tap into the power of computers to model, simulate, visualize and choose the best alternatives in calculations.

    “It’s using computer programming as an instrument to engage in mathematics investigations,” says Chantal Buteau, Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.

    “It’s taking a scientific, experimental approach to mathematics: asking questions, conjecturing, testing math problems or applications with programming and seeing the outcomes through computer simulations, then further tweaking the problem or model to continue the math work,” she says.

    Buteau and fellow mathematicians Bill Ralph and Henryk Fuks are adapting the

    European Mathematical Society’s view that, beyond theory and experimentation, “a third pillar of scientific inquiry of complex systems has emerged in the form of a combination of modelling, simulation, optimization and visualization.”

    “Few post-secondary mathematics programs address this 21st century need by adapting the curricula to combine mathematics and computer programming,” says Buteau.

    Brock is the exception.

    For more details, please see the story in the Brock News

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