Fostering a Passion for Mathematics – April 27, 2023

I am fortunate to have grown up in Hungary that has a long tradition of superb Mathematics Education. My Mathematics teachers fostered my interest and enjoyment of the subject by making me see Mathematics as something people do instead of a set of skills that people possess. My teachers’ recipe was simple: the more I enjoy doing Mathematics, the more I will succeed. My main goal is to share strategies, best practices and resources that will help you increase your students’ intrinsic motivation to engage with Mathematics. I will also present some recent research on the importance of fostering students’ interest and enjoyment of doing Mathematics.

Seminar Leader: Judit Karlos, PhD

Judit is an assistant professor of mathematics. She received her BA in mathematics and MS in philosophy from Eötvös University in Budapest, followed by a PhD in mathematics with a focus on Real Analysis. Her research interests as a teacher are related to teaching and learning mathematics using the Inquiry Based Learning method. Most recently, she was a panelist on IBL at Mathfest in 2019 and she presented a paper on using IBL in the Real Analysis classroom at the National IBL Conference in Denver.

Teaching Science Through Issues to Increase Engagement, Meet the NGSS, and Prepare Citizens
November 18,2022 or March 10, 2023

Science plays a critical role in society, providing us with the knowledge we need to understand the universe and to better our lives. All persons, not just practicing scientists, need a great science education, and this education must provide students with the ability to use science in their everyday lives, a necessity made crystal-clear by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite the importance of science to all, many students are less than enthusiastic about their science courses. Participants will explore how teaching science through personal and current societal issues increases student interest in science, while simultaneously meeting the NGSS and creating citizens capable of applying high-quality scientific information to address these issues. Participants will develop an issue and a module based on that issue that they can implement in their courses.

Seminar Leader: Christopher Murphy, PhD.

Christopher Murphy is the Associate Provost for Curriculum and Liberal Learning and a Professor of Biology at TCNJ. He taught his first class of non-majors biology 30 years ago as a post-doctoral associate, and since then, over 95% of his teaching has been with this population. For much of this time, he has used an issues-based approach to help non-majors become interested in science and develop as educated citizens capable of using reliable scientific information to make reasoned decisions. He conducts research in both biology and college education.

Incorporating Virtual Reality (VR) in the Classroom – May 9, 2023

It is imperative to upskill students for 21st century high demand careers in a diverse world and increase their culturally competent compassion as teachers prepare them to be global citizens. To this end, this seminar will introduce how immersive technology such as Virtual Reality (VR) can be used in teaching and learning and showcase recent student engagement with VR and projects designed to have social/cultural/health impact. Built in this seminar are guided hands-on VR sessions where participants will have the opportunity to interact with and critique a range of impactful programs. Participants will learn how VR is revolutionizing teaching and learning, and explore ideas on leveraging it to innovate within their own field. Book used for this seminar is: Experience on Demand: What Virtual Reality Is, How It Works, and What It Can Do Hardcover by Jeremy Bailenson

Seminar Leader: Yifeng Hu, PhD

Hu is an associate professor of Communication Studies at TCNJ. Her research and teaching are transdisciplinary, which include emerging communication technology, health communication, and intercultural/racial communication. She has led her students to research and design virtual reality-based projects that have the potential to make social changes. Hu is eager to share her expertise and passion in emerging communication technology and its social impact, and hopes to excite her peers with a vision of teaching and learning for the 21st century.

Information and Registration for all seminars

• Time: 9:00am – 2:00pm
• Location: The College of New Jersey, Ewing NJ
• Fee: $225.00 per person/per seminar* Fee includes
• Five hours instruction
• Materials unless noted
• Certificate of Completion
• Lunch and Parking

Registration and payment information at: https://TCNJ-SES.eventbrite.com

• Eventbrite service /payment fees are not included:
• Payment by purchase order/check total cost: $234.47
• Payment by credit card total cost: $240.33
• For seminars that are using books: The books are not required, but highly recommended. You may use your own, or TCNJ will provide at an additional cost of $25.00 (paperback mailed to you, or digital version). Please contact us for arrangements.

Registration Information

• Online registration on Eventbrite is required
• You do not need a PO# to register
• If paying by purchase order – please select “pay by invoice”

Payment Information/Timeline:

• To receive books before seminar payment is due 2 weeks prior to seminar date
• Final Deadline: 1 week prior to seminar date
• Accepted form of payments are
• Credit Card(Eventbrite only)
• Purchase Order
• Check/Money Order

Payable To: The College of New Jersey or TCNJ
Mail to: The College of New Jersey
PO Box 7718 Ewing, NJ 08628-0718 Education – 108
You may email or fax purchase orders to aspire@tcnj.edu, f. 609.637.5196.

For any questions please contact George at aspire@tcnj.edu or 609.771.2540