"Discovering the Art of Mathematics" is developing, evaluating and distributing a library of ten inquiry-based learning guides and supplemental teacher resources primarily for college-level Mathematics for Liberal Arts courses. These curriculum materials provide compelling, high-quality, student-centered resources that support a continuum of individual learning styles; have engaging content that is intellectually challenging; and nurture in-depth explorations of mathematical topics in the liberal arts tradition. The topics for the ten volumes are patterns; the infinite; number theory; knot theory; music; geometry; calculus; games and puzzles; art and sculpture; and reasoning, truth, logic, and certainty.

This project promotes a broad range of meaningful, positive, cognitive, meta-cognitive, and affective student gains and is being and will continue to be assessed through both formative and summative evaluations. An advisory board, including nationally known mathematicians, is reviewing, beta testing, and providing feedback on each of the ten volumes.

The full library is being widely distributed through a website, workshops, presentations, and publication. This project provides a well-designed and intellectually sound liberal arts curriculum which is a healthy complement to quantitative literacy and applications curricula for Mathematics for Liberal Arts courses.

Agency
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Institute
Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE)
Type
Standard Grant (Standard)
Application #
0836943
Program Officer
Ron Buckmire
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
2009-06-15
Budget End
2012-05-31
Support Year
Fiscal Year
2008
Total Cost
$149,971
Indirect Cost
Name
Westfield State College
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Westfield
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
01086