FYMSiC News
Announcements
Hello FYMSiC,
Have you ever needed or wanted . . .
- To discuss a new course (course content, delivery, assessments, resources, etc.) you are teaching and have no one to reach out to?
- Advice and tips on how to write a grant application or a paper?
- Collaborators or speakers for an event that you are planning to organize?
- To work on a mathematics or mathematics education research project or outreach initiative?
Well, look no further! FYMSiC PROFILES is here! 🙂
Supported by PIMS and CMS, FYMSiC has created FYMSiC Profiles, an accessible online repository whose purpose is to better connect the mathematics community in Canada and beyond. This centralized, password-protected, user-verified repository contains self-entered data about instructors, including professional contact information, courses taught, research interests, research projects, publications, and resources. It is easily searchable, so you can use it to find other members of the community with similar interests!
You can access FYMSiC Profiles through the FYMSiC website: www.firstyearmath.ca
But you need to register!
We will not share the FYMSiC Profile data with anyone.
The only individuals who have access to FYMSiC Profiles are those who were verified when registering for the FYMSiC website.
To register …
- Please visit www.firstyearmath.ca .
- In the toolbar at the top of the page, click on ‘Register’. (Note that if you registered for a FYMSiC account prior to April 2024, you will need to register again to access FYMSiC profiles as we started on a clean slate.)
- On the Create an Account web page, fill out Account Details (username with no spaces, email, and password) and Profile Details (full name, position/job title, institution/company, state/province/territory, and country). After filling in all required fields, click on ‘Complete Sign Up’.
- You will have to wait about 48 hours or less to be verified. Once the FYMSiC Team checks your Account and Profile Details, you will receive an email that you are approved.
- After the email, you can log into your account and fill in your profile with as much information as you feel comfortable sharing: courses taught, research interests, research projects, publications, and resources. Please think of keywords that would be easily searchable. For example, you can write the course code, but this may not mean anything to someone at a different institution. So, provide a short description of the course such as ‘several variables calculus’. Check out the FYMSiC Profiles of the FYMSiC Team to see how you might want to format your FYMSiC Profile.
- You can edit your information at any time when logged into your account. We will contact individuals to do an update ‘spring-cleaning’ once or twice a year.
- If you wish for your FYMSiC Profile to be deleted, please email: Andie Burazin a.burazin@utoronto.ca
If you have any questions or comments, please contact: Andie Burazin a.burazin@utoronto.ca
We will send out a reminder email to sign up for FYMSiC Profiles in about a week.
Again, we hope that this initiative helps us all to better connect with the mathematics community in Canada and beyond.
That is FYMSiC’s main goal.
Thanks for joining FYMSiC Profiles! 🙂
Halu FYMSiC! 🙂
Thank you very much for your anonymous responses!
We will have the 2026 FYMSiC Conference in person.
See survey results: Survey Results – 2026 FYMSiC Conference – In person
Details will arrive later.
Note that FYMSiC does not want to stretch its members from other communities, the annual conference will not be a yearly in-person event, and all conference registration fees will go towards the attendees.
If you have any questions, please reach out anytime.
GL, FYMSiC. 🙂
Hi FYMSiC! 🙂
A great opportunity at the College of the Rockies, thanks to Andrea Hydes. See the post!
We’ve got a posting for a term math instructor at COTR for the winter. I’m on the interview committee and I’d love to see someone from the FYMSiC community interview. It’s important to know that it’s an in-person job in Cranbrook.
https://cotr.prevueaps.ca/jobs/25172
Rocky mountains, FYMSiC! 🙂
Salute FYMSiC! 🙂
A great opportunity! A call for math ed research presentations or posters! Check it out below.
The Fields MathEd Forum invites proposals for our Annual Research Day Event, which will be held on Saturday, January, 25, 2025 at the Fields Institute in Toronto. Research Day provides an opportunity to showcase current and emerging research in mathematics education from across Canada in a collaborative and conversational environment.
We are seeking submissions for research presentations and posters. Please submit an abstract of approximately 250 words. The abstract should include a clear statement of the context, research questions, and a summary of (preliminary) findings of your research. All proposals will be peer-reviewed.
Presentations will take place in-person at Fields and will be shared with an in-person and hybrid audience. We especially encourage emerging scholars and graduate students to submit completed, ongoing or interesting work in early form.
Please submit your abstracts by November 5, 2024, 11:59pm PST.
Submissions can be made through this link: https://forms.gle/aFEyB8WRMuvfhoUQ7
Showcase yourself, FYMSiC! 🙂
Hiho FYMSiC! 🙂
Just passing along a fantastic math education online event by the Canadian Mathematical Society:
2024 CMS MathEd Online Meeting
Dates & Times: Friday, November 22nd, 2024 (17:00 EST – 20:00 EST) — Saturday, November 23rd, 2024 (11:00 EST – 15:00 EST)
More information: https://winter24.cms.math.ca/mathedonline
Plenary Lectures:
Brent Davis (University of Calgary) Friday, November 22 | 5pm EST
Brent Davis is from northern Alberta, where he taught secondary school mathematics through most of the 1980s. His research is focused on the educational relevance of recent developments in the cognitive and complexity sciences, and his principal interest is teachers’ disciplinary knowledge of mathematics. Over the past 12 years, through the “Math Minds” project, he has worked with multiple western Canadian school districts to improve the learning of mathematics.
Robert Dawson (Saint Mary’s University) Saturday, November 23 | 11am EST
Robert Dawson did his undergraduate degree in mathematics and physics at Dalhousie, and a PhD at Cambridge. He has taught mathematics courses ranging from statistics to differential equations at Saint Mary’s University for more than thirty years, and has done research on topics ranging from lichenometry to higher-dimensional category theory. In his spare time, he writes science fiction. He believes that the world needs more bicycles.
Over and out, FYMSiC. 🙂
Aaniin FYMSiC! 🙂
A great statistical literacy poster competition for FYMSiC to participate in. Check it out!
Anyone with a project where students need make sense of data this fall may be interested in participating (or they may know of others who teach at a Gr 4-university/college level who would be interested). The project deliverable could be tailored to the competition, or instructors could invite and mentor their students with the strongest projects to translate to a poster to enter into the competition.
More information is available at https://islp.ssc.ca/.
All the best, FYMSiC! 🙂
HI FYMSIC! 🙂
Another fantastic math ed event. Check it out below with poster attached!
Dear Colleagues,
I hope this email finds you well. We are excited to invite you to an upcoming conference focused on innovative approaches to teaching mathematics, which will take place on December 10, 2024, at the Fields Institute (online). This event aims to bring together educators, mathematicians, and researchers who are passionate about advancing the ways mathematics is taught and learned.
The conference will feature a series of insightful talks and a panel discussion on topics such as integrating technology into math education and interdisciplinary teaching methods. Given your interest and expertise in the field, we believe your participation would be greatly valued. Additionally, we kindly ask if you could forward this invitation to any colleagues, fellow educators, or mathematicians who share a passion for enhancing math education. We aim to create a collaborative environment that encourages the exchange of ideas and best practices.
Please find attached the poster and registration information.
http://www.fields.utoronto.ca/activities/24-25/Ada-Lovelace
We would be honored to have you join us for this important discussion.
Thank you for your consideration, and we look forward to the possibility of welcoming you to the conference. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us directly at s.kirusheva@utoronto.ca.
Warm regards,
Snezhana Kirusheva,
Marina Tvalavadze,
Jonathan Herman,
The Department of Mathematical and Computational Sciences (MCS),
University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada
Event Poster: Ada Lovelace Event at Fields Institute
Be tech savvy, FYMSiC! 😉
Congratulations
Awards
Chantal Buteau (Professor of Mathematics, Brock University) received the 2023 Brock University Distinguished Teaching Award. Press Release: https://brocku.ca/brock-news/2023/12/outstanding-faculty-instructors-lauded-for-teaching-excellence/
Christopher Eagle (Associate Teaching Professor, University of Victoria) received the 2024 CMS Excellence in Teaching Award. Press Release: https://cms.math.ca/news-item/dr-christopher-eagle-to-receive-the-2024-excellence-in-teaching-award/
Lauren DeDieu (Associate Professor (Teaching), University of Calgary) received the 2024 Margaret Sinclair Memorial Award. Press Release: https://www.fields.utoronto.ca/news/Dr-Lauren-DeDieu-receives-2024-Margaret-Sinclair-Memorial-Award
Matt Coles (Educational Program Director and Honourary Lecturer, University of British Columbia) received the 2023-2024 UBC Killam Teaching Prize. Press Release: https://www.math.ubc.ca/news-events/awards/apr-16-2024-matt-coles-awarded-killam-teaching-award
Peter Taylor (Professor, Queen’s University) received the 2024 Graham Wright Award. Press Release: https://cms.math.ca/news-item/dr-peter-taylor-named-2024-graham-wright-award-recipient/
Trefor Bazzet (Assistant Teaching Professor, University of Victoria) received the 2024 PIMS Education Award. Press Release: https://www.uvic.ca/science/math-statistics/home/home/announcements/current/2024-bazett-pims-edu-award.php#:~:text=Trefor%20Bazett%20was%20awarded%20the,Congratulations%20Trefor
Edward Dolittle (Associate Professor, First Nations University of Canada) recognized in the CMS 2024 Class of Fellows. Press Release: https://cms.math.ca/news-item/canadian-mathematical-societys-2024-class-of-fellows-announced/
Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication
to mathematics and statistics education!
For past FYMSiC News, please visit the Past News.
FYMSiC Online Teaching Meetups
Online Teaching Meetups are a great virtual space to have a conversation about math and stats teaching and learning with students and educators. Each meetup has a specific theme such as ‘How to teach ‘em math proofs in first-year and beyond?’ or ‘What is CEGEP?’ or ‘Transitioning to university: high school teachers’ experiences and views’, which may be accompanied by a couple of presentations – but for sure, a healthy, therapeutic and cathartic dialogue is always there about teaching and learning!
Upcoming meetup …
♦ Tuesday, October 22nd, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. (EDT)
Zoom: TBA
Passcode: TBA
Title: “I’ll just get ChatGPT to do it.” — overheard student conversation.
Abstract:
Since its release in November 2022, we’ve all seen how useful ChatGPT can be — double-checking our tricky inverse trig integrals or generating that pesky Python code for us — but equally how quickly it can undermine the learning of our students — who are also using it to solve those tricky inverse trig integrals or to generate that pesky Python code — and whose reliance on these tools may cause them to miss out on developing foundational skills needed for higher level courses. Are we fighting a losing battle or can we use generative AI to completely reimagine what we can do in first year math and stats?
A collaborative chat session on navigating the new environment of teaching with and/or against generative AI.
Moderator: Meghan Allen (Mount Allison University)
Most recent meetup …
♦Tuesday, September 24th, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. (EDT)
Title: Modeling Makes Mathematics Fun and Real — For Real!!
Abstract: We have found modeling to be a rich source of motivation for students in all levels of mathematics, be it mathematics for elementary teacher to calculus to differential equations to stochastic processes and more. We will share some examples in detail and some in cursory overview with pointers for sources. Areas and topics include: What can you see from the other side of the valley; Getting malled; m&m modeling of death and immigration; logistic model of spread of diseases with m&m’s; Torricelli’s Law for Falling Column of Water; LSD Drug Model – highlights; chemical kinetics; modeling evictions; propagation of the word JUMBO; and more. As well we will discuss Sources and Opportunities
Biosketch: Brian Winkel, is an Emeritus Professor of Mathematics from the US Military Academy, West Point NY USA, and Founder and Director of SIMIODE – Systemic Initiative for Modeling Initiatives and Opportunities with Differential Equations, a Community of Practice, with hundreds of resources to support modeling-first teaching of the pivotal STEM course in differential equations. He has taught in a wide variety of high education institutions and founded two scholarly journals Cryptologia and PRIMUS.
From the meetup to share with FYMSiC:
Presentation slides: Fall 2024 FYMSiC Online Teaching Meetup
Papers mentioned: Winkel (1990) ; Winkel (2001) ; Winkel (1996)
Activity: Winkel (1997)
SIMIODE website: https://qubeshub.org/community/groups/simiode
Save the date …
♦ Tuesday, November 19th, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. (EST)
For past FYMSiC Online Teaching Meetups & Events and Resources mentioned and discussed, please visit the Meetups page.
Other Math & Stats Education Events
♦ November 8th — 10th, 2024 [Hybrid]: 2024 National Numeracy Network Annual Meeting, George Brown College, Toronto, Ontario
♦ November 22nd — 23rd, 2024 [Online]: 2024 CMS MathEd (Online) Meeting
♦ November 29th — December 2nd, 2024 [In Person]: 2024 Canadian Mathematical Society Winter Meeting, Richmond/Vancouver, British Columbia
Fields Institute Mathematics Education Forum
Meeting Information: http://www.fields.utoronto.ca/centres/centre-mathematics-education
The Fields Institute Mathematics Education Forum promotes discussion of issues in mathematics education at all levels, with special emphasis on education in the Province of Ontario. The Fields Institute for Research in Mathematical Sciences serves as the host of the Forum, but does not determine the agenda or the conclusions of the Forum. It is the goal of the Forum to consider objectively new ideas and diverse views in mathematics education, to facilitate consensus and to promote the enhancement of mathematics education in Ontario and Canada.
The Forum’s mandate is to foster the development of new ideas, methodologies and materials with respect to possible changes that could improve education in mathematics, and to work for the implementation of such changes.
University of Waterloo Mathematics Teaching Seminar
The Mathematics Teaching Seminar at the University of Waterloo is a biweekly meeting featuring discussions on undergraduate mathematics teaching. Participants in the seminar include lecturers, research faculty, and graduate students from all four of Waterloo’s mathematics departments and the David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science, as well as faculty members and teaching enthusiasts from around the world. Those who would like to attend are encouraged to reach out to the organizers, Burcu Tuncer Karabina and Chelsea Uggenti.
FYMSiC Newsletter
Current issue …
Issue 15 – July 22nd, 2024
Our sixteenth issue is coming out in January 2025. If you wish to contribute to our Newsletter, please visit the Newsletter page.
Please send your contributions in Microsoft Word or LaTex (source) formats to: newsletter@firstyearmath.ca
For the sixteenth newsletter issue, the contribution deadline is on Friday, January 31st, 2025, by 11:59 p.m. (PST).
FYMSiC Latest Share ….
From Brian Winkel (SIMIODE) for FYMSiC:
I just got my Notices of the American Mathematical Society and I “noticed” pun intended the rich set of articles in the Early Career column, e.g., Publishing and presenting mathematics, Why mathematics is boring, Predatory journals pose a threat to the dissemination of science, Proofs and conversations, How to referee a math paper.
If you have not called attention to those to whom you reach out in support of professional development, especially early career individuals, then I suggest you point them to this column. the Notices are FREE (no need for membership in AMS) and available at https://www.ams.org/notices with Early Career column issues https://www.ams.org/cgi-bin/notices/nxgnotices.pl?fm=gen&cnt=career . Also, all back issues with rich articles are also available for FREE.
FYMSiC Recent Publications
- Blanck, N., & Jungić, V. (2024). A Threading Path to a Ramsey Number, The Journal of Mathematics and Arts. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.1080/17513472.2024.2321562
- Burazin, A., Jungic, V., & Lovric, M. (2024). A detailed look at continuity in Calculus textbooks, International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, 1–17. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.1080/0020739X.2024.2337943
- Gerofsky, S., & Fellus, O. (December 6, 2023). JCACS interviews Susan Gerofsky: Where is mathematics in everyday life. YouTube channel: Curriculum without borders. Journal of the Canadian Association for Curriculum Studies https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kT34KN7Bqfg&t=387s
- Fellus, O., Freiman, V., *Lurette, O. (2024). Rapturousness in makerspaces: Delight in construction. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Mathematics and its connections to the Arts and Sciences (MACAS), Moncton 2022. IAP.
- Fellus, O., Khan, S., & *La France, S. (forthcoming). Weaving identity in mathematics education: Fads, fictions, fibers, and freedoms / Le tissage d’une identité dans l’enseignement des mathématiques: les modes, les histoires, les ficelles et les libertés. In J. Holm (Ed). Canadian Mathematics Education Study Group (CMESG).
- Freiman, V., & Fellus, O. (2024). Spatial reasoning in authentic contexts of an engineering challenge: Tapping into children’s intuitive understanding of relationships between objects and self. The 26th ICMI Study: Advances in Geometry education. Reims, France. https://icmistudy26.sciencesconf.org/data/pages/ICMI_Study_Pre_Proceedings.pdf
- Jungić, V. (2024). The Never-ending Happiness of Erdős’s Mathematics, The Mathematical Intelligencer, 46 (10), 33-41. Retrieved from: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00283-023-10267-5
- Lacerda Jacinto, E., Towers, J., & Martin, L. (2024). “They know how to navigate…but they don’t know where to go”: Students’ Feedback on Mathematics Teachers’ Practices. Alberta Journal of Educational Research, 70(1), 130–141. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.55016/ojs/ajer.v70i1.77811
- Mason, J., Watson, A., & Fellus, O., (December 6, 2023). JCACS interviews Anne Watson and John Mason: Mathematics in the curriculum. YouTube channel: Curriculum without borders. Journal of the Canadian Association for Curriculum Studies https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMx1haggeUs&t=1s
- Polotskaia, E., Savard, A., Fellus, O., & Freiman, V. (2023). Equilibrated development approach to word problem solving in elementary grades: Fostering relational thinking. In K. Robinson (Ed.), Mathematical Teaching and Learning: Perspectives on Mathematical Minds in the Elementary and Middle School Years (pp. 29–50). Cham: Springer International Publishing. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-31848-1_3
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