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Keynote: What's Actually the Point? Teaching Math in the 21st Century
Dr. Dave Kung
Executive Director of Transforming Post-Secondary Education in Mathematics (TPSE-Math)
We now teach math in a world where ubiquitous devices can correctly solve nearly all computational problems and even most open ended ones. What does that mean for the teaching and learning of mathematics? In this session we’ll search for a path forward – one that isn’t about bowing to our new Artificial Intelligence overlords, but rather doubling down on what we’ve really cared about all along.
Sparking Curiosity in the Math Classroom
Lauren Baucom, Ph.D. and Jenny White, Amplify Desmos Math
What does curiosity in the math classroom sound like? What does it look like? In this session, we will explore facilitation moves that foster curiosity and support students in thriving as mathematical thinkers. By balancing the elements of academic safety and productive struggle, participants will experience a rich math task, from a collection of free Amplify Desmos Math modeling tasks, that offers a wide variety of authentic choices while normalizing a nonlinear solution pathway, creating a conducive environment for rich discussion that increases student engagement and desire to learn. Participants can expect to leave this session with a toolkit of instructional moves that foster curiosity in their math classrooms and a collection of free modeling tasks built for Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2.
Calculus in 50 Minutes: A Day 0 Introduction to Calculus For Students
Taylor Belcher, South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics
This session walks attendees through an interactive Desmos activity designed to build student intuition for the two big ideas of introductory calculus, the derivative and the integral, without getting into any technical details. Tested in both high school and college classrooms, these tasks build conceptual understanding without overwhelming students and serve as an ideal transition lesson for the final day of Precalculus or the first day of Calculus.
The Mathematics Behind the Ambiguous Cylinder Illusion
Christine Belledin, NCSSM - Durham
How can an object look like a circular cylinder from one direction, yet appear as a square cylinder from another? In this interactive session, we will demystify Japanese mathematician Kokichi Sugihara’s award-winning Ambiguous Cylinder Illusion. We will rethink equations of lines in terms of vectors, which will allow us to move easily from two dimensions into three. Using vectors, equations of lines in 3-space, and parametric equations, we will construct the exact mathematical boundary that creates this mind-bending optical trick. You will leave with a fun activity that could be used with multivariable calculus students or scaffolded to challenge strong precalculus students.
Before You Differentiate: Helping Calculus Students Think Like Optimizers
Rachel Elia, Arkansas School for Mathematics, Science, and the Arts
In this interactive session, participants will explore both physical and digital simulation tools for teaching inference concepts in introductory statistics. Using hands-on materials like sampling paddles alongside coding environments and interactive websites, we'll build intuitive understanding of hypothesis testing and the construction of confidence intervals for prediction. Attendees will experience these activities as learners, discuss the pedagogical principles behind them, and leave with several classroom-ready simulations and lesson materials adaptable for various levels of technology access.
Data Science Unplugged
Taylor Gibson, NCSSM - Durham
Great data science thinking doesn't start at a keyboard. In this hands-on session, we'll explore favorite computer-free activities: sampling that make variability tangible, simulations that introduce hypothesis testing, and data cards that bring data moves to life. Come ready to play, and leave with activities you can use tomorrow.
Populations in Motion: A Living Data Visualization
Ron Lancaster, University of Toronto, Mathematics Consultant
Statistics and demographic trends often feel flat when locked inside a spreadsheet. This high-energy, interactive session turns real-world numbers into a living spectacle, diving straight into mathematical models, exponential growth, and how compounding rates actually behave in the real world.
Along the way, we will look at official census data and explore the complexities of how cities are defined—such as what it actually means when we measure the population of a sprawling hub like Jakarta.
Watch math leap off the page as participants physically embody the growth trajectories of major global cities. As the timeline shifts decade by decade—from 1995 deep into the 21st century—participants will realign themselves in real time based on shifting growth rates.
Attend this session to witness a dynamic, human-powered data visualization unfold right before your eyes. Through historical data and exponential modeling, you will see firsthand how urban landscapes shift, capped off by a stunning, colorful finale that completely transforms how you look at population growth!
Data Driven Algebra
Craig Lazarski, Cary Academy
Understanding and using data is essential across all areas of mathematics and beyond. In this hands-on session, participants will explore real-world flight data using CODAP to investigate the concept of inverse variation. Through the exploration, we will examine how authentic data can help students uncover mathematical relationships while asking questions, identifying patterns, and making sense of variability. Participants will leave with an example of how data exploration can make a familiar mathematical concept more meaningful while simultaneously developing students’ skills as data investigators.
X and Y Make a Good Pair
Walt Levisee, Arkansas School for Mathematics, Science, and the Arts
The use of parametric equations to model lines is a powerful tool that facilitates the students' understanding of what it means for a relationship to be linear. This talk will focus on ways to introduce parametric equations at the beginning of the study of lines.
Resource Relay
Multiple Presenters
Ever walked out of professional development thinking, "Great theory... but what do I do with this on Monday?" We’ve been there. Skip the abstract ideas and join us for a hands-on station rotation featuring real classroom-tested assignments, projects, and resources straight from your peers. You’ll sit down with presenter-teachers, dig into the implementation details, anticipate student responses, and walk away with 5 turn-key activities ready to launch in your classroom immediately. Got a lesson you'd like to share at Resource Relay? Let us know on your registration form and we will send a proposal request in January!
Watch This Space - 10 More Session Descriptions Coming Soon!
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