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An Interdisciplinary Quantitative Reasoning Program at Hollins University By Caren Diefenderfer and Trish Hammer http://www1.hollins.edu/homepages/hammerpw/qrhomepage.htm The History of Quantitative Reasoning at Hollins Spring ’98 Idea for a two level, basic (q) then applied (Q), quantitative reasoning requirement Fall ’98 q Basic QR Requirement Exempt QR Assessment Math 100 ‘98-99 QR Workshops (Hollins) ’99-00 QR Reading Group (Hollins) ’00-01 QR Faculty Development Activities (NSF) Fall ’01 Q Applied QR Requirement Students complete one Q course Each Q course contains at least 2 QR Projects Q courses across the curriculum QR Faculty Development Activities (supported by NSF) Four Visiting QR Scholars Public Lecture Faculty Workshop Two QR Workshops for Hollins Faculty Visiting QR Scholars Jerry Johnson, University of Nevada at Reno (9/2000) Lecture (100): “The Mathematics Across the Curriculum Project at UNR” Workshop(15): Applications of QR in the Social Sciences Dorothy Wallace, Dartmouth College (10/2000) Lecture(70): “The Mathematics Across the Curriculum Project at Dartmouth” Workshop(14): A Study of Symmetry Using Block Art Helen Lang, Trinity College in Connecticut (2/2001) Lecture(70): “The Role of Science/Math Laboratories in Humanities Courses” Workshop(14): Discussion of the Importance of QR in the Humanities Lou Gross, UT at Knoxville (4/2001) Lecture(70): “Everglades Restoration: Computing, Ecology, Mathematics, and Public Policy” Workshop(9): QR in Ecology (Using Ecobeaker and Populus) Q Faculty Development Workshops at Hollins 2 NSF funded 4 day workshops - emphasis on development of QR projects for Q courses Workshop Sessions Math 100 topics (lecture and Excel labs) Definition of QR Discussion of teaching strategies Sample QR projects and guidelines Presentation of QR projects by faculty Workshop Participants Humanities: Classics(1), Philosophy(1) Social Sciences: Communications(1), Economics(1), History(2), Political Science(1), Sociology(1) Fine Arts: Theatre(1) Natural and Mathematical Sciences: Biology(3), Chemistry(2), Computer Science(2), Mathematics and Statistics(2), Physics(1), Psychology(1) Q Courses at Hollins Biology: Business: Chemistry: Plants and People, Ecology, Plant Biology Corporate Finance* General Chemistry, Principles of Chemistry Analytical Chemistry Classics/Art: Ancient Art Computer Science: Computer Science I Communications: Research Methods in Communication Economics: Economics of Social Issues, Economics of Health Care, Public Finance, Money, Credit and Banking, Macroeconomics, Women and Economics* History: US Social History, European Imperialism* Mathematics: Precalculus, Intuitive Calculus, Calculus I and II, Linear Algebra, Symbolic Logic Philosophy: Symbolic Logic Physics: Physical Principles, Analytical Physics Political Science: Research Methods in Political Science Psychology: Human Memory Sociology: Sociology of Health, Illness and Medicine, Methods of Social Research Statistics: Introduction to Statistics, Statistical Methods Theatre: Lighting Design Ancient Art Professor Christina Salowey Quantitative analysis of treatise on architecture from antiquity by Vitruvius Quantitative analysis of field data and scaled drawings of ancient buildings “Discovery” of proportional relations between units 3D Reconstruction of Doric temples Ecology Professor Renee Godard Field trips to graveyards Collection of “real” mortality data on males and females born between 1830-1839 and 1890-1899 “Hands on” experience with life tables s-curves patterns of survivorship population dynamics fertility Sociology of Health, Illness and Medicine Professor Kay Broschart Quantitative analysis of 1990’s health care data - median net salary vs percentage of female physicians within medical specialty fields - life expectancy vs rate of infant mortality vs percentage health care spending in US in other countries Lighting Design Professor Laurie Powell-Ward Potentials and problems of theatrical lighting through lab exploration with standard industry equipment Script based design projects Quantitative concepts – angle, beam spread, intensity, wattage, control board timing Execution of design allows students to see their schematics “in action”