MathExcel/Emerging Scholars Program/Workshop Mathematics

Thomas Dick is Professor Emeritus and former Chair of the Department of Mathematics at Oregon State University (Corvallis, Oregon).  For over twenty years he served as the faculty director of OSU’s Mathematics Learning Center.  He also founded OSU’s Math Excel Program, based on Uri Treisman’s Emerging Scholars Workshop Program and the original Math Excel program of University of Kentucky. One of his main interests in mathematics education throughout his career has been the use technology to enhance mathematics teaching and learning. He co-authored the technology chapter of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Handbook of Research in Mathematics Teaching and Learning, and he was a co-editor of the book Focus on High School Mathematics: Technology to Support Reasoning and Sense-Making. He remains active in mathematics education through a leadership role in the grading of the College Board’ Advanced Placement Calculus Examination each year and as a senior mathematics advisor to Texas Instruments Educational Technology Division.

 

Why I chose to work with the Math Excel (Emerging Scholars, Workshop Mathematics) model

I had heard of Treisman’s outstanding results with his Emerging Scholars Workshop program for some time, but I feared that successful implementation required some extraordinary talent that I sorely lacked. However, after extended discussions with, and encouragement from Professor Mike Freeman about his experience creating the University of Kentucky’s Math Excel program, I became convinced that it was worth a try.  The idea of students working together on challenging mathematics problems in a social setting, with discussions facilitated by peer leaders, is both incredibly appealing and powerfully effective.  Without a doubt, the experience forever changed my views on teaching mathematics.