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The ACC Math Dept. needs more volunteer instructors to demonstrate their talents at the 2nd Annual {S.E.T.} Sessions, scheduled for Thursday , Jan 15th, 2009 (week before classes begin). The {S.E.T.}Sessions: Samples of Excellent Teaching provide an opportunity to observe the teaching styles of other ACC Math Faculty members. Several volunteer instructors will teach a real lesson, as if to students, for 15 minutes each. Teaching demonstrations will be back-to-back with NO DISCUSSION OR CRITQUE. The sessions are designed to give us time to share our talent and passion for teaching without judgement or evaluation.

But.....this won't work without volunteer instructors! Would you consider teaching a lesson? It doesn't have to be fancy, just do what you normally do; pick your favorite topic and show us how you teach it! If you want to come and be only an observer, that's OK, too. Both teachers and observers will receive professional development credit.

Interested in doing a teaching demo? Please contact Anne Praderas apradera@austincc.edu by Friday, November 21. Thank you!

Presenter: Irie Glajar

Description: Many times students benefit from alternatives to standard
mathematical procedures, especially at the developmental level. As
instructors, we can aid the understanding and we can eliminate anxiety
also by bringing meaningful, related stories to the classroom. All this
should help our students see the beauty and the usefulness of
mathematics, which should ensure a better rate of success.

A message to college level math faculty from Tony Vance-Math Contest.

The fall 2008 math contest is scheduled for Friday, October 31, between
1 and 3 pm (yeah, that's right, it's Halloween). I am going to hold a
review at RGC on the 17th; I've even convinced Mike Dellens to come out
of (semi-)retirement to participate in it. Over the next few days I'm
going to finalize the flier advertising both the review and the
contest. What I need from you now is:

1. Proctors at other campuses than RGC, please let me know who you are
and when you want to give the exam; it needs to be within the 1-3 pm
window on the 31st. As in the past, you can be there for one hour or
(up to) two, although of course each individual student gets only one
hour to take the exam.

2. If you want to contribute money for this round, the easiest way would
be directly to the ACC Foundation; either contact Stephanie Dempsey at
diina@austincc.edu or go to the Foundation's donation web page,
http://www.austincc.edu/foundatn/donate.php If you want to give me
cash, I'll also take that.

3. Let me know if you are planning a review session so I can put it on
the flier.

4. Please be sure to encourage your best students to participate in the
contest. Anyone at the College Algebra level or higher has a chance to
do well, although of course the more math a student has had, the better
they are likely to do. As Mike always told us, a direct, personal
invitation is most likely to be successful.

Thank you,

Tony

Some faculty members are noticing that they are getting email messages from afs_rem@austincc.edu stating that they haven't provided section preferences for New Discipline (TFMAT). This is the phantom discipline that is attached to our department. The e-staffing system has to distinguish between MATH and MATD. We cannot work
with them separated so they put everything into one area which leaves this empty discipline whose sole role is to cause maximum confusion.

HR have just posted a number of new Instructional Associate II positions for developmental math. The qualifications and duties differ to the current IA positions, interested faculty should read the job postings for full details. These positions will report directly to the Math Department.

A note about the postings. Applicants should not apply online. Do not click on "apply here" print out the the "Instructional Associate Position Interest Form" from the tool bar on the left of the screen. Applicants do not need to submit transcripts, these are already on file. Closing date for applications is October 3rd.

Pre-tests should be kept secure, do not give them out to students. Students can take home the reviews.

Start of Semester Memo bullets 1. First Day Handouts 2. Office Hours. 3. Important Dates 4. Rolls 5. E-staffing

Departmental Emails 2008-9

Fall 2008