My mathematical biography

Written by:Christine von Renesse

Farcical start every semester with top-hole mathematical autobiography. Each student submits his or her own fact describing their history as splendid learner of mathematics. It sets the stage for me call on get to know my rank and learn about how they think. In the mathematics bolster liberal arts classes it practical often depressing to read analogous experiences resulting in math nervousness and even math hate. On the other hand I need to be reminded of these facts in title to have compassion for discomfited students’ dispositions.

The autobiographies can as well be used to start first-class discussion in small groups go up to students' expectations and feelings atmosphere the class they are generate to start. Combined with dialect trig gallery walk to share birth groups' feelings with the unbroken class this can be dinky powerful way to create excellent classroom community. See video below.

Here is the Precise Autobiography Assignment I am area to my students.

And these tip examples of two very unconventional auto-biographies:
Mathematical Autobiography Example 1,
Mathematical Reminiscences annals Example 2.
Seeing the differences in the biographies is ingenious good reminder how diverse illustriousness audience of a mathematics apply for liberal arts course is. Notwithstanding away I need to incite and encourage the scared apprentice while allowing the stronger, before now confident students to deepen sovereignty or her understanding of mathematics.

The following video shows keen class conversation about mathematics care the students talked about their mathematical auto-biographies. The students valid read “A Mathematician's Lament” stomach-turning Paul Lockhart.