North Country high school math teachers come together to discuss solving real-world problems

Professional development day for mathematics teachers at Clarkson University

Clarkson University recently hosted a professional development day for mathematics teachers. Twenty-one high school mathematics instructors from St. Lawrence, Franklin, and Jefferson counties participated in the one-day workshop "Developing Mathematical Models and incorporating them in the Classroom."

New York State has adopted the National Common Core Standards that require modeling's real -world contexts and applications be included in classroom instruction. The President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) report, "Prepare and Inspire: STEM education for America's Future," emphasized that the real-world focus of modeling fosters students' interest in mathematics and develops the critical thinking skills needed for future employment. 

Clarkson Mathematics Professors Kelly Black and Katie Fowler shared their experiences in mathematical modeling as a tool to support classroom goals, explore and motivate, and build problem-solving skills.

The gathered teachers brainstormed on a mathematical modeling approach to understand the deer population in the North Country, including identifying key variables and measurable relationships. The group expressed interest in a focused follow-up session to further develop relevant projects to take back to their students. 

The event was sponsored by Clarkson University, its Office of Educational Partnerships, and the Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) with support from the Moody's Foundation, a charitable foundation established to support mathematics education.

Clarkson University launches leaders into the global economy. One in five alumni already leads as a CEO, VP or equivalent senior executive of a company. Located just outside the Adirondack Park in Potsdam, N.Y., Clarkson is a nationally recognized research university for undergraduates with select graduate programs in signature areas of academic excellence directed toward the world's pressing issues. Through 50 rigorous programs of study in engineering, business, arts, sciences and health sciences, the entire learning-living community spans boundaries across disciplines, nations and cultures to build powers of observation, challenge the status quo, and connect discovery and engineering innovation with enterprise.

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