Writing math lessons that integrate Christian beliefs: The Kuyers Institute Grant Project ACMS Bienn

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Writing math lessons that integrate Christian
beliefs The Kuyers Institute Grant Project
ACMS Biennial ConferenceJune 3, 2005

• Dave Klanderman, Trinity Christian College
• Dave.Klanderman_at_trnty.edu
• Gary Talsma, Calvin College
• tals_at_calvin.edu

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Outline of Presentation

• The Charis Project Cause and Effects
• The Kuyers Institute General Mandate and
  Overview of Specific Project
  
• Sample Lessons (Currently Under Construction)
• Hypercubes
• The Gender Gap
• Upcoming events and future challenges

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The Charis Project Cause and Effects

• Britains National Curriculum (1980s
  1992--OFSTED)
  
• Spiritural, moral, social, and cultural
  development is a whole-curriculum matter
  
• The Charis Mathematics materials
• Math in context math as metaphor math and
  worship
  
• Dominant math area data analysis

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The Kuyers Institute

• Mandate investigate applications of the
  integration of faith and learning
  
• Project goal develop a collection of
  lessons/teaching units that middle/high school
  teachers can use to help them teach math from a
  Christian perspective
• Free distribution of materials via Internet
  and/or CD-Roms (jump drives, etc.)

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Project Team Members

• Jim Bradley (Math, Calvin)Leader
• Drew Busch (High School Math Teacher, Fremont
  High, MI)
  
• Jan Gormas (Math Education, Calvin)
• Dave Klanderman (Math Ed., Trinity)
• Eve Ricketts (High School Math Teacher, Grand
  Rapids Christian High, MI)
  
• Gary Talsma (Math/Math Ed., Calvin)

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Titles of lessons/units

• Mathematics and the nature of God
• Mathematics and History I (and II)
• Patterns in Creation (Fibonacci sequence, Golden
  Ratio, etc.)
  
• Exponential Growth
• Hypercubes
• The Gender Gap
• The Explosion of Space Shuttle Challenger
• The Indian Ocean Tsunami26 December 2004
• Paper or Plastic? No Thanks
• Other lessons (Titles TBA)

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Sample Lesson Hypercubes

• Mathematical content
• Iterative construction of n-cubes
• Representations of 3-cubes and 4-cubes
• Counting components of n-cubes
• Faith perspective created in Gods image
• Power
• Limitations

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Hypercubes (Continued)

• Pedagogical considerations
• Multiple levels
• Related student projects
• Hyperlinks

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Sample Lesson The Gender Gap

• Author Drew Busch
• Highlights (see sample handout)
• Presentation and discussion of regression
  analyses
  
• Perils of assumed linearity and extrapolation
  beyond valid input range
  

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The Gender Gap (Continued)

• Intended Christian integration (and related
  challenges of the public school pilot site)
  
• Analysis of intended math concepts
• Potential data selection concerns

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Upcoming Events

• July 30, 2005 Final Drafts of Lessons/Units
  Due
  
• August 20 (/- 2 days) Team meeting to discuss
  drafts and approval pilot versions
  
• 2005-2006 school year Pilot-testing of some
  (all?) lessons/units
  
• Several schools (local, national, international)
• Summer 2006 Revision, Editing, and Distribution
  of Lessons/Units

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Current and Future Challenges

• Multiple potential audiences
• Christian and public schools
• U.S. and international schools
• Location of integration of Christian beliefs
• At beginning (and/or in teacher notes)
• Throughout the sequence of activities
• At end (and/or post-lesson reflections)
• Achieving a harmony (unity?) of pedagogical
  style(s)