|
|
April's Research Edge Forum
Topic: "Brackets are to Mathematics as Commas are to English"
17 April 2008
The Forum will be held on Friday 25th April 2008, from 12 noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Lecture Theatre of the Culinary and Hospitality Management Institute (CHMI) located in The Bahamas Tourism Centre on Thompson Boulevard. Dr. Janet Patterson, Assistant Professor, and Mrs. Greta Kemp, mathematics lecturer in the School of Science and Technology, The College of the Bahamas, will deliver the presentation.
The presentation will highlight the importance of the use of brackets in mathematics by comparing their use to the use of commas in English.
The researchers argue that brackets are as important to the Language of Mathematics as commas are to the English Language. They posit further that students are usually oblivious of the role of brackets in mathematics, suggesting that mathematics teachers need to emphasise the importance of this element of ‘punctuation’ in mathematics just as English language teachers must emphasise the use of commas.
They advance a theory which they seek to support through a review of the literature, highlighting errors that result from the improper use of brackets in mathematics. Such errors they argue are analogous to the communication errors that result from the improper use of commas. Other uses of brackets in mathematics are discussed.
Research Roundtable
The College of The Bahamas, in conjunction with our Kent State University (KSU) partners, has organized a Research Roundtable:
Roundtable III
Balancing Teaching, Citizenship (Committee Work and Service) and Research
Presenter: Dr. Autumn Tooms, Associate Professor, Teaching, Leadership and Curriculum Studies, College of Education, Human and Health Services, KSU
Date: Friday, April 25, 2008
Venue: Boardroom, 3rd Floor, Michael H. Eldon Complex
Time: 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Office of Communication
Tel: 302-4304
Email:communication@cob.edu.bs
|
|
|
|