TO:  Mathematics Education Committee
RE:  Minutes of Meeting of 29 November1995
 
Members Present:  Brennan, Johnson, Kansky, Kennedy, Kullman, Rouse, Walker
 
ACTION ITEM:  PROPOSAL FOR EDT 465-565
 
Johnson moved and Brennan seconded a motion directing Rouse to seek
University approval of (a) the new name and syllabus for EDT 465-565, (b) the
new catalog description of EDT 465-565, and (c) the revised
certification/endorsement requirements for secondary teachers of mathematics
associated with EDT 465-565.  [The relevant proposals are those that were
mailed to the Committee prior to the meeting.]
 
During the discussion of the motion, Rouse accepted several requests for
changes in wording suggested by those present and by Urbanski (email).  The
motion, applied to the proposals as revised, passed unanimously.
 
If approved by the University, EDT 465-565 will be taught at least twice a
year on the Oxford campus by EDT or MTH faculty.  There also is the option of
offering it on the Hamilton or Middletown campuses if faculty and facilities
are available.  It will replace the current options [EDT 465 (old version),
SAN 163, SAN 174] as the only course fulfilling the technology requirement of
the certification/endorsement programs for teachers of secondary school
mathematics.  In addition, the catalog description will promote it as an
elective for preservice elementary school teachers who are taking a
concentration in mathematics.
 
MATHEMATICS CONCENTRATION FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHERS
 
The question was raised whether EDT 465 might be accepted as credit toward
the 20 hours of mathematics required under the Elementary Education
Mathematics Concentration.  Although members of the Committee are enthusastic
about finding room for EDT 465 in the program of those taking the mathematics
concentration, it was concluded that the 20 hours should be mathematics hours
only.
 
Kennedy questioned the appropriateness of the content of either STA 261 or
STA 368 within the concentration.  Although STA 368 was designed as a course
for secondary school teachers of mathematics, it has evolved into a course
for engineers; neither course meets the original intent of STA 368.  Kullman
noted that the statistics faculty is aware of a college-level course that has
grown out of the Quantitative Literacy Project (which was a joint effort of
the American Statistical Association and the National Council of Teachers of
Mathematics), and he believes that there is a willingness to offer such a
course if a reasonable enrollment can be guaranteed.  Were the course to
become the statistics requirement for secondary school teachers of
mathematics and for elementary school teachers taking the mathematics
concentration, reasonable annual enrollments would appear to be certain.
 
[NOTE:  Kullman said that the number of students in the concentration my be
estimated by subtracting the number of students taking MTH 177 from those
taking MTH 218.  Although "Concentration" is not a search field in the
student records database, Kansky will check with EDT to see if records are
being kept.]
 
Examination of the current EDT "declaration form" for a concentration in
mathematics revealed that there are no specific courses listed as recommended
for the three elective hours.  MTH 381, 407, 411, and 485 were suggested as
possible options, but there was no motion to pursue a change in the form at
this time.  Rather, it was agreed that the Committee should give priority to
investigating the possiblity of a new statistics course and to examine
implications of changes in the concentration for changes in the thematic
sequences.  Exploratory talks will continue with the statistics faculty in
preparation for Spring meetings of the Mathematics Education Committee.
 
NEXT MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE
 
The 29 November meeting will be the last meeting of the Committee this
semester.  Members will be polled again to establish a meeting time for the
Spring semester.