A group of students and faculty represented the University of Hawai‘i–West O‘ahu at a mathematics conference where they presented their work earlier this month in Pennsylvania.
UH West O‘ahu faculty members Dr. Laurie James and Dr. Veny Liu, and students Felicia Dirige and Archana Delos Reyes, attended the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) MathFest Aug. 4 to 6 in Philadelphia. Every summer, MAA — the world’s largest community of mathematicians, students, and enthusiasts — presents MathFest, which features the latest in mathematical research and education to diverse audiences across the nation.
James, associate professor in Education; Liu, associate professor in Mathematics; and Dirige, a Mathematics Secondary Education student; presented “Math Teacher Candidates Have an Open Door to the Outside Classroom” at the event’s Poster Session for Projects Supported by the National Science Foundation Division of Undergraduate Education.
The project aims to provide a learning community and professional development at improving culture-based pedagogical approaches and content knowledge that incorporate sharing best practices with math teacher candidates and the Math Teachers’ Circle of Hawai‘i (MaTCH) at the tidal islands of Ke‘ehi region (Kahaka‘aulana, Mokuo‘eo, and Mokauea).
At the same event, Applied Mathematics student Delos Reyes presented “Applying Fractal Geometry to Measure Coastline in Hawai‘i” at the MAA Undergraduate Student Poster Session. The presentation is a product from her participation in the Pūko‘a Kani ‘Āina Summer Undergraduate Research in applying existing fractal geometry methods to estimate a more plausible measurement of the coastline with consideration of the coastline paradox.
“Our students had such a great learning experience,” Liu said.
Dirige said attending the MAA MathFest conference was “eye-opening.”
“The energy of each individual was motivating and exciting,” Dirige said. “Each attendee was just as passionate as the next. This experience has given me a new perspective on how our research can be shared with others across the nation to be adapted and applied how they see fit. I hope to continue to refine the research we have started and reach larger audiences in the future.”
Delos Reyes added, “MathFest was a fantastic experience where I got to meet others (who are a) part of the math community and gain insight of what it is like to do and present research.”
The UH West O‘ahu group’s activities and travel were funded by three National Science Foundation awards:
- Enhancing Discovery-based Learning in STEM Education by Integrating Augmented Technology and Culture-Based Pedagogy (Principal Investigator: Dr. Rebecca Romine, rromine@hawaii.edu)
- Pūko‘a Kani ‘Āina (Co-Principal Investigator: Dr. Megan Ross, mcolvin@hawaii.edu)
- Broadening Engagement in Mathematics Participation and Readiness Education Project (BE-MathPREP) (Principal Investigator: Dr. Veny Liu, venyliu@hawaii.edu)
UH West O‘ahu students are encouraged to contact the PIs or Co-PI above for further information about program opportunities.