We have four special sessions and one workshop, along with contributed paper sessions that will run concurrently during the conference. A program containing the full schedule will be posted on the website as the conference approaches.
Workshop
Elements for Successful Courses in the Digital Age. Sydney Smith, Senior Educational Courseware Specialist (Hawkes Learning).
Abstract: With an increasing mix of online, hybrid & in-person course offerings, students are learning differently than ever before. As a result, they require a unique set of resources that not only meet their general course needs but also give them the necessary support to thrive in the array of new learning environments that they may encounter
Join Hawkes Learning as we break down the nine elements that instructors can implement to help meet students’ needs in modern classroom setups. We will explore how factors such as equity, scalability and engagement play a role in supporting students as they learn, ensuring positive outcomes in any course structure. Learn new ways to connect with your students, facilitate active participation, prioritize accessibility, and more. Attend and be entered to win a $75 Amazon Gift Card!
Special Sessions
Happy Hundredth: Celebrating the Southeastern Section Centennial. Brian Beasley (Presbyterian College), Sloan Despeaux (Western Carolina University), David Stone (Georgia Southern University)
Abstract: This special session invites talks which highlight any aspect of the impressive 100-year history of the Southeastern Section. Presentations may run the gamut from past to present to future, acknowledging the contributions of those who preceded us and anticipating the variety of paths ahead for the next generation of teachers and students. All topics and participants are welcome as we come together to celebrate the continuing strength and limitless potential of the MAA’s finest section.
You Keep Using That Word. Jeneva Clark (University of Tennessee, Knoxville), Jonathan Clark (University of Tennessee, Knoxville)
Abstract: In the 1987 film Princess Bride, Inigo Montoya says, “You keep using that word.” The Spaniard recognized a familiar culprit that pervades mathematics—definitional obscurity. Although definitions underpin mathematics, there are some commonly spoken phrases in our discipline whose ambiguity we happily overlook.
What might we mean when we call something “rigorous”? Does one mathematician’s idea of an “elegant” proof match another’s? How might one measure “mathematical maturity”? Rebelling against pedantic precision, we might just delight in the artistic license of uncertainty. However, to escape an elitist effect, perhaps we should at least acknowledge our fuzziness, as Inigo Montoya did. To what topics in mathematics would you say, “I do not think it means what you think it means”? Let us not prescribe, but rather describe our shared meanings, along with their divergences. Design an engaging presentation that utilizes polls, games, puzzles, or roleplay, and is riddled with as many Princess Bride references as you wish.
Recreational Mathematics. Timothy Goldberg (Lenoir-Rhyne University)
Abstract: “Recreational mathematics is inspired by deep ideas that are hidden in puzzles, games, and other forms of play.” (Robert Vallin, quoted in “Three New SIGMAAs Formed”, by Jacqueline Jensen-Vallin, MAA Focus Vol. 38, No. 2, April/May 2018.) The field of recreational math includes a startling variety of mathematical ideas and strategies and tends to be especially entertaining and accessible. (And they make wonderful examples and research projects for students!) This session is devoted to talks related to recreational math, in any of its myriad forms!
Talks by Graduate Students. Jon Ernstberger (LaGrange College), Stacey Ernstberger (LaGrange College), Kristen Abernathy (Winthrop University)
Abstract: When applying for academic jobs, candidates are usually expected to give a research talk, an expository talk, a sample class, or a combination of the three as part of an on-campus interview. Those seeking jobs in industry or government can make a good first impression on employers with a professional talk at a national conference. In this session, we invite graduate students to give talks of this kind on any subject to a supportive audience. Faculty will provide feedback on the talks to interested speakers.