MATHINK The Voice of IUPÕs Mathematics Department ********************************************************** KARL SMITH VISIT Karl has give several workshops at I.U.P. over the last few years. His workshops are well done and very informative. Also note that Karl has a math/science background and is doing just what we are expected to do; continuely develop our expertise in both our subject field and our teaching. Karl Smith's Schedule Date Time Location Wed. 3/26 3:00-4:00 PM Stright Auditorium Talk: "Getting students involved in thinking mathematically via cooperative learning" Wed. 3/26 7:45-8:45 PM 32 Weyandt Hall Talk for a general audience: "Cooperative Learning: What, How, and Why?" Thur.3/27 10:00-11:30 AM 301 Stright "Coffee and Chat with Karl" For graduates of Karl's workshops and other interested faculty. Thur. 3/27 1:15-2:45 PM 208 Weyandt Hall Talk for Mathematics students: "Why should math students be interested in cooperative learning" Thur.3/27 3:30-4:30 PM 231-232 Stright Talk for Mathematics faculty: "Problem-Based Cooperative Learning: A model for improving applications of mathematics" ******************************************************** I.U.P. HOSTING CALCULUS SHORT COURSE ÒEnhancing Calculus Using the TI-92 and CBL SystemÓ Indiana University of Pennsylvania will host a five-day short course on calculus enhanced with a computer algebra system using the Texas Instruments TI-92 (TI-92 enlargement) and the Calculator-Based Laboratory (CBL) system. The course will be taught by Dennis Pence using materials developed by the Ohio State University Short Course Program, organized by Bert Waits and Frank Demana, and will be held on June 2-6, 1997. Interested high school, college, and university faculty are encouraged to attend.Registration forms are available by contacting the host coordinator, Dr. Rebecca Stoudt, through e-mail ( rastoudt@grove.iup.edu) or by phone(412) 357-8212 or (412) 357-5700. More information can be obtained on the website http://www.ma.iup.edu/~stoudt/shortcourse.html *************************************************** IUP HOST FOR SEQuaL III: A Comprehensive Program in Statistics Education through Quantitative Literacy SEQuaL III will facilitate quantitative literacy (QL) activities across-the-curriculum through work with district teams of teachers. Each team will consist of at least one forrner SEQuaL participant who collaborates with colleagues in other disciplines to develop applied multi-disciplinary projects. This intensive workshop will feature: classroom lessons for implementing the NCTM Standards in statistics and probability and gathering and analyzing real data of interest to the participants for multi-disciplinary projects. The workshop will take place at IUP July 20-25, 1997 Contact Dr. Jack Shepler, Project Director Center for Statistics Education in 211 Stright Hall, phone 412-357-6239, FAX 412-357-2616 or visit the website http://www.ma.iup.edu/projects/SEQual/form/iup.htm. *************************************************** SPRING WORKSHOPS OFFERED BY CAREER SERVICES Opportunities in Government - Wed. 4/9 6:30 PM, 305 Pratt Making It at Your FIrst Job - Tues. 4/22 7 PM 305 Pratt Job Hunting on the Internet - TBA African American Career Forum - Thurs, 4/3 6 PM Eberly Auditorium Alternative Opportunities for Teachers - Sat 4/5 9-12 330 Davis PA Careers Day Job Fair - Thurs. 4/10 10 - 4 PM Penn State Bryce Jordon Center IUP Teacher Recruiting Fair - Thurs. 4/24 9-5 PM Memorial Field House Contact Career Services at 357-2234 for more information. *************************************************** SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE IDA Z.ARMS KME EXCELLENCE GRANT - Scholarship is presented to an outstanding student who is a member of Kappa Mu Epsilon ARTHUR G. MORRELL SCHOLARSHIP - Scholarship is given to a mathematics major completing the sophomore or junior year at IUP. The recipient will reflect the character and interests of Captain Morrell, a US Marine Pilot and IUP football captain. MILDRED M.REIGH MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP - Student must have QPA of 3.5 or better, have obtained junior standing, and exemplify excellence or potential for excellence in mathematics teaching at either the elementary or secondary level. Candidates may be undergraduate or graduate students enrolled in mathematics education programs administered by the mathematics department. WIENKEN AND ASSOCIATES SCHOLARSHIP - Awarded to a talented, deserving sophomore or junior in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics with at least 30 credits and having a 2.75 or better QPA. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> FACULTY COLLOQUIA SCHEDULE FOR SPRING Ô97 Date: April 8 Title: TBA Speaker: Dr. Mary Enderson Instit.: IUP Rating: TBA Date: April 22 Title: TBA Speaker: Dr. John Henry Steelman Instit.: IUP Rating: PG <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> ON THE LIGHTER SIDE So you think you're computer illiterate? Check out the following excerpts from a Wall Street Journal article by Jim Carlton -- 1. Compaq is considering changing the command "Press Any Key" to "Press Return Key" because of the flood of calls asking where the "Any" key is. 2. AST technical support had a caller complaining that her mouse was hard to control with the dust cover on. The cover turned out to be the plastic bag the mouse was packaged in. 3. Another Compaq technician received a call from a man complaining that the system wouldn't read word processing files from his old diskettes. After trouble-shooting for magnets and he failed to diagnose the problem, it was found that the customer labeled the diskettes then rolled them into the typewriter to type the labels. 4. Another AST customer was asked to send a copy of her defective diskettes. A few days later a letter arrived from the customer along with xeroxed copies of the floppies. 5. A Dell technician advised his customer to put his troubled floppy back in the drive and close the door. The customer asked the tech to hold on, and was heard putting the phone down, getting up and crossing the room to close the door to his room. 6. Another Dell customer called to say he couldn't get his computer to fax anything. After 40 minutes of trouble-shooting, the technician discovered the man was trying to fax a piece of paper by holding it in front of the monitor screen and hitting the"send" key. 7. Another Dell customer needed help setting up a new program, so a Dell tech suggested he go to the local Egghead. "Yeah, I got me a couple of friends", the customer replied. When told Egghead was a software store, the man said, "Oh, I thought you meant for me to find a couple of geeks." 8. Yet another Dell customer called to complain that his keyboard no longer worked. He had cleaned it by filling up his tub with soap and water and soaking the keyboard for a day, then removing all the keys and washing them individually. 9. A Dell technician received a call from a customer who was enraged because his computer had told him he was "bad and invalid." The tech explained that the computer's "bad command" and "invalid" responses shouldn't be taken personally. 10. An exasperated caller to Dell Computer couldnÕt get her new Dell Computer to turn on. After ensuring the computer was plugged in, the technician asked her what happened when she pushed the power button. Her response, "I pushed and pushed on this foot pedal and nothing happens." The "foot pedal" turned out to be the computer mouse. 11. Another customer called Compaq tech support to say her brand-new computer wouldn't work. She said she unpacked the unit, plugged it in, and sat there for 20 minutes waiting for something to happen. When asked what happened when she pressed the power switch, she asked "What power switch?" 12. True story from a Novell NetWire SysOp: Caller: "Hello, is this Tech Support?" Tech: "Yes, it is. How may I help you?" Caller: "The cup holder on my PC is broken and I am within my warranty period. How do I go about getting that fixed?" Tech: "I'm sorry, but did you say a cup holder?" Caller: "Yes, it's attached to the front of my computer." Tech: "Please excuse me if I seem a bit stumped, it's because I am. Did you receive this as part of a promotional at a trade show? How did you get this cup holder? Does it have any trademark on it?" Caller: "It came with my computer, I don't know anything about a promotional. It just has '4X' on it." At this point the Tech Rep had to mute the caller, because he couldn't stand it. The caller had been using the load drawer of the CD-ROM drive as a cup holder, and snapped it off the drive! Submitted by William F. Garnett III e-mail : vmrf@grove.iup.edu Sophomore -- Applied Mathematics Major home page : http://www.iup.edu/~vmrf/ Computer Science Minor %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% ThatÕs it for the March MATHINK. Remember if you have any contributions, let me know!