MINUTES
Math Department Meeting
November 17, 2009
- Do developmental courses taken at another institution meet ECC minimum
competency requirements, negating the requirement to take the COMPASS test?
Currently such courses are dealt with on a case by case basis, with input from
math department members for questionable cases. It was agreed to leave things
as they are, revisiting the topic in the future if problems arise.
- Saturday math courses.
Currently MTH 101 and 102 are being offered on Saturdays. After discussion it
was agreed that 097 and 126 would not work well for Saturday courses, but that
098 might work as a hybrid and that 125 would have a good chance of success.
So there was a consensus that a trial 125 should be instituted for the fall of 2010.
The point was made that teachers of Saturday courses need to make themselves
available throughout the week, and be available by email, consultation, etc.
- Status report and discussion of the use of MathXL in ECC math courses.
The replies to Mary Ann’s solicitation of MathXL experiences in teaching were all over
the map. Some of the feedback suggested that the software seems to work best
in developmental classes, but not in college algebra. Dan Kernler is the only one
at present who uses it in a course above 112 (MTH 120). On the whole, there is
no evidence currently that we should require its use, but we will continue to
make it available and to offer training.
4. Use of MSC 203.
A faculty member would like to use MSC 203 as a smart classroom for a regularly
scheduled class, as against the division’s current policy of allowing its use only
for special use on a sign-up basis (available through emath). Since the room
is under-used, it was tentatively agreed that scheduling a class in it may work,
subject, however, to the approval of other members of the division. So Mary Ann will
confer with the heads of other departments in the division before scheduling a
class in the room.
5. Update on Space Needs
Those who attended the meeting about future facilities for the math department
shared needs and wishes and were given a respectful hearing. Jim observed that
during the next year nothing definite about the math department’s future space will
be decided, since other aspects of college planning will be front and center.
6. Math Scholarship
Dan Gardner presented the option for the ECC Foundation to provide a math
scholarship geared to math department criteria and chosen by the department.
Dan said that retired department members would be willing to donate to the
Foundation specifically for such a scholarship, and he asked for help in working
on this project. Nicole and Terri volunteered to form a subcommittee to look at
applications once every year.
7. Conference Announcement
Mary Ann spoke about the upcoming meeting of the International Conference on
Technology in Collegiate Mathematics (ICTCM). The conference will be
March 11-14,2010, at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers.
From the website:
“ICTCM has something for everyone—from developmental mathematics to
calculus, statistics, teacher preparation, and beyond. Presenters will review
popular teaching and learning tools, and emerging technologies such as the
iPhone, Twitter, SmartPen, Second Life, YouTube, CP3, and Elluminate.
No matter how you want to experience ICTCM—sessions, papers, workshops, or
mincourses—you will return home ready to experiment with new tools and skills,
integrate technology into your courses, and inspire your students in new ways.”