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MAA Math Alert - October 2014

Announcements

Happy Halloween from MAA!
Did you use math to carve your pumpkin this year? Send photos to editor@maa.org and we'll add them to our gallery.

Back Issues of Math Horizons Sought
The MAA is tracking down back issues of Math Horizons to fill out the collection housed at the Archives of American Mathematics, and two issues remain elusive. If you could contribute the September 2000 and/or the February 2005 issue, send an email to kmerow@maa.org with subject line "Horizons for archives." Thanks!

Ed Aboufadel to Edit MAA "In Memoriam" Page
Ed Aboufadel (Grand Valley State University) has assumed responsibility for keeping the organization's "In Memoriam" page comprehensive, consistent, and up to date. (Thanks, Ed!) If you receive notification or hear of the death of an MAA member or other prominent mathematician, please pass the information on to him at inmemoriam@maa.org.

Help Build a Level 4 Menger Sponge!
From October 20-26, more than 20 sites around the globe will help build a distributed Level 4 Menger sponge out of folded business cards. Check www.megamenger.com for ways to get involved and to see if one of the main build sites is in your area.

Public Phase of the MAA Second Century Campaign Launches
The Second Century Campaign is a comprehensive effort to support MAA's vision and priorities in recognition of its 100th anniversary in 2015. The silent phase of this five-year campaign officially began in 2012. The public phase is now in effect and will continue through the end of 2016. MAA President Bob Devaney thanks all those who are helping to sustain the momentum of the campaign. Make your gift today.

Celebrate MAA's Centennial on Social Media
We're starting our centennial celebration a little early on social media. Find us on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+, where we'll share trivia and pivotal moments from MAA's first 100 years. Use the hashtag #MAA100 to share your favorite MAA memories!

Contribute to the Centennial Timeline
As part of its centennial celebration, MAA will publish a commemorative booklet, which will include a timeline. The timeline will contain important events in the MAA's history and external events that had an impact on the field of mathematics, such as the launch of Sputnik. Take a look at the information collected so far and email Lois Baron (lbaron@maa.org) with any additions, comments, or corrections you would like to make.

Calculus Taught with a Tablet at JMM Workshop
Want to see how a book designed specifically for a tablet can be integrated into the calculus classroom? Add MAA's Monday afternoon (3:00-4:15) session "Teaching Calculus with a Tablet" to your JMM schedule. See the JMM Program Book for more details.

Submit Your Found Math Photos
The Found Math feature of the MAA website is now curated by Steve Phelps of the Ohio Council of Teachers of Mathematics. He welcomes submissions at foundmath@maa.org.

Bookmark the Mobile Editions of MAA Journals
Like to read your MAA journals on the go? If, as a full member of the MAA, you log in with your username and password, these links will load the latest issues: 

Now Open

ICTCM 2015 Program and Registration
All MAA members are invited to attend the 27th International Conference on Technology in Collegiate Mathematics, held in March 2015 in Las Vegas. View the complete program, register online, or submit a proposal for a poster session or contributed paper session. Learn more.

Registration for American Mathematics Competitions
Now is the time to make sure that middle and high schoolers get to participate in the AMC 8 (November 18, 2014) or AMC 10/12 (February 3 or 25, 2015). Teachers who register their students receive not only a $10 discount (if they register online), but also a free one-year MAA K-12 Teacher membership.  Learn more  about registration and registration benefits or, for information on proctoring an AMC contest at your institution, contact amcinfo@maa.org.

Upcoming Deadlines

October 24: Nominations for 2015 Alan T. Waterman Award
Each year the National Science Foundation's Waterman Award recognizes the talent, creativity, and influence of a singular young researcher. Learn more about the nomination procedure and selection criteria.

October 27: Early Registration for AMC 8
Registration for the AMC 8 remains open through November 10, but the "early bird" price of $50 lasts only through October 27. After that date the rate will increase to $65, so register now. 

October 31: MAA MathFest Minicourse Proposals
Proposals for minicourses at MAA MathFest 2015 are due by October 31, 2014. More information is available here.

October 31: Proposals for MAA MathFest Themed Contributed Paper Sessions
The Contributed Paper Session Committee seeks proposals for themed sessions for MAA MathFest 2015 (and the Joint Mathematics Meetings 2016). Learn more. 

November 1: Nominations for Dolciani Award
Nominations for the Mary P. Dolciani Award, which recognizes a pure or applied mathematician who is making a distinguished contribution to the mathematical education of K-16 students in the United States or Canada, are due to Barbara Faires by November 1. Learn more.

November 3: JMM Complimentary Room Drawing
Register for the Joint Mathematics Meetings in San Antonio byNovember 3 and be included in a random drawing to select winners of complimentary hotel rooms. Register now. 

November 15: Applications for CURM Mini-Grants
The Center for Undergraduate Research in Mathematics awards mini-grants of $15,000 to $20,000 to faculty to do undergraduate research at their own institution with their own students during the next academic year. The application deadline isNovember 15, 2014 for the 2015-2016 academic year. Learn more. Apply.

Now Online

Martin Gardner in the Foyer
The cover story of the October/November MAA FOCUS details, in honor of Martin Gardner's centennial, the math popularizer's little-known connection to MAA headquarters. Read the story.

Don't Fear the MOOC
Massive open online courses making you nervous? Learn in the October/November MAA FOCUS how to make the MOOC work for you. Read the article.

IBL Students Build Their Own Maps
In a guest post for Math Ed Matters, Ellie Kennedy (Northern Arizona University) reveals what she learned the first time she used an inquiry-based learning approach. Read the post.

Basic Procedures AND Conceptual Understanding
Math teachers know, Keith Devlin argues in the October installment of Devlin's Angle, that learning math requires both mastery of a set of basic procedures and conceptual understanding of the mathematical notions on which those procedures are built. Read the post.

Assessing the Effects of College Precalculus
In the October Launchings, David Bressoud surveys results of work done to determine the effectiveness of college courses in precalculus. Read the post.

Publishing Date: 
October, 2014