MD-DC-VA COMMIT
COMmunity for Mathematics Inquiry in Teaching
The MD-DC-VA COMMIT is a participant of the COMMIT Network (previously the IBL Communities Network), which provides funding for our community. We thank the COMMIT Network for their support.
We are excited to be sponsoring the Workshop at the Spring Meeting of the MAA MD-DC-VA Section at James Madison University.
We are thrilled to have Heather Russell of the University of Richmond leading the Workshop on Promoting community, confidence, and creativity in the classroom and would love to see you all there. Please see the Workshop details below and spread the word to anyone and everyone 😊
The spring meeting is April 26-27 2024 and the workshop will be on Friday April 26 from 4:00-6:00pm.
Workshop Info
Title: Promoting community, confidence, and creativity in the classroom
Abstract: For the last decade or so, my teaching energy has been focused on finding successful ways to engage students in active learning. This is still central to what I do, but lately, I have been thinking quite a bit about community. The work of Della Dumbaugh, Pamela Harris, Deanna Haunsperger, Aris Winger, Cindy Wyels, and so many others has spotlighted the importance of community in one’s mathematical journey. As Deanna’s Saturday Morning Address last fall discussed, community and belonging can be a source of courage and perseverance in the face of challenge. With these resources comes greater access to creativity and joy – things we wish all students can experience. This workshop will focus on techniques for building community and belonging in the classroom and beyond. To set the tone, we will begin by reflecting on the role community has played in our own mathematical lives. To get the conversation started, I will share what I have learned from the work of folks mentioned above, my amazing colleagues, and my own experiences. My intention is that this workshop will provide a space for exchanging ideas, celebrating successes, making connections, and brainstorming new directions.
Bio: Heather M. Russell is an Associate Professor of Mathematics and the Mathematics Program Coordinator at the University of Richmond. She received B.A. degrees in mathematics and computer science from Washington College in 2003 and a Ph.D. in mathematics from The University of Iowa in 2009. Before coming to Richmond, she held post-doctoral positions at Louisiana State University and University of Southern California and also taught briefly at her undergraduate alma mater. Her research lies primarily at the interface of combinatorial representation theory and low-dimensional topology, and diagrammatic structures play a prominent role in her work. Dr. Russell is passionate about involving students in her research and building a more inclusive math community within and beyond the classroom.
Who are we?
The MD-DC-VA COMMIT was formed in early 2016 (the group was originally called the MD-DC-VA IBL Consortium) as a network of college math instructors with a common interest in teaching and learning using inquiry. We recognize that teaching with inquiry can look very different in different contexts, and view our role as supporting instructors in utilizing the version that works for them and their students. Names that have been used for teaching with inquiry include: ambitious teaching, project-based learning, complex instruction, inquiry-oriented learning, discovery learning, inquiry-based learning, and student-centered teaching. We welcome members who are new to teaching with inquiry as well as those who are more experienced. Please join us!
Current Leadership Team
Communications Officer/Director: Kelly Bubp, Frostburg State University (term: Fall 2021-Fall 2023)
Program Officer: Jessica Kelly, Christopher Newport University (term: Fall 2022 - Fall 2024)