IMSE
Colloquia and Brown Bag Seminars—Spring 2000 

Below is a schedule for Spring 2000 of colloquia sponsored (or co-sponsored) by UIC's Institute for Mathematics and Science Education. 
Schedule Spring 2000
January 12 (Wednesday)

The Geometry of Wholemovement: Folding the Circle for Information

Bradford Hanson-Smith

12:00 noon-1:00 p.m.

Room 2087 SEL

(Soft drinks and coffee will be provided.)

Contact Marty Gartzman via email (Gartzman@uic.edu ) if you would like to be added to IMSE's electronic mailing list.

Bradford Hanson-Smith has published two books about circle folding and what he calls the geometry of "wholemovement." Wholemovement is a hands-on approach to understanding the circle. By principled folding and joining paper circles we can extend our knowledge and understanding of traditional geometry. Folding circles provides a comprehensive and uniquely rich spatial experience for students from first grade up through college level. Hanson-Smith will introduce his technique in a hands-on seminar. 

IMSE Brown Bag Seminars provide an informal forum for UIC faculty and staff and others to share ideas and research.

Call Marty Gartzman (312) 413-2971 for more information about the seminar. 

March 17, 2000 (Friday)

The Consortium on Chicago School Research

Tony Bryk

3:30 - 4:30 pm

2087 SEL

The findings of three reports published by the Consortium on Chicago School Research highlight some of the current issues and obstacles facing teachers of mathematics in our public schools.  This presentation will focus on the content of the mathematics taught in the Chicago Public Schools, the intellectual depth in which the students are engaged, and the adequacy of time in the present arrangements of the daily school schedule
April 27 (Thursday)

Inca Mathematics

Thomas E. Gilsdorf

3:30 - 5:00 p.m.

Room 636 SE0

(Soft drinks and coffee will be provided.)

Contact Marty Gartzman via email (Gartzman@uic.edu ) if you would like to be added to IMSE's electronic mailing list.

This talk will be on the mathematics of the South American group commonly known as the Incas. The context of the talk will be in regard to the interaction between culture and mathematics and will include features such as: geographical and historical considerations, art and decoration, the influence of non-Incan groups, the difficulties in obtaining accurate information, some highlights of the Inca empire. From a mathematical point of view, we will discuss counting schemes and calculation schemes. A major part of the mathematical discussion will be a description of the quipu, the knotted string record keeping of the Inca. Although some sophisticated mathematics will be discussed near the end, the talk will be understandable to those interested in the history of mathematics, anthropology, pre-Columbian art, and related areas.;

IMSE Brown Bag Seminars provide an informal forum for UIC faculty and staff and others to share ideas and research.

Call Marty Gartzman (312) 413-2971 for more information about the seminar. 

May 3 (Wednesday)

Weave a Transformational Star System

Bradford Hanson-Smith

12:00 noon- 1:00 p.m

2087 SEL

Author and sculptor Bradford Hanson-Smith has published two books about circle folding and what he calls the geometry of "wholemovement." Wholemovement is a hands-on approach to geometry. Hanson-Smith introduced his circle-folding technique in an IMSE Brown Bag seminar in January. In this hands-on seminar, Hanson-Smith will illustrate a new technique he has developed. Come and learn how to weave sticks into a geometric, three-dimensional, expandable/collapsible star joint from which are developed many different geometric models. Using sticks you will learn to weave a three-dimensional movement pattern in the form of an expanding, collapsing spherical star. Various stages of the woven pattern will be used to form many different kinds of transformational systems, each demonstrating different aspects of geometry in movement form. Because there is no fixed fulcrum in these patterned relationships there is an unusual degree of movement between all elements in the various systems. We will weave a star cube pattern that can change into a tetrahedron and many other configurations. This is a new way of thinking about geometry, pattern, form and movement. This weaving, model-making activity is good for the fifth grade level on up. 
HECA 2000 Also see HECA 2000
Symposia Series 


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