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 Reasoningat Hollins

Spring ’98 Idea for a two level, basic (q) then applied (Q), quantitative reasoning requirement

Fall ’98 q Basic QR Requirement QR Assessment Exempt

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 LectureFaculty 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 SciencesDorothy 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 HumanitiesLou 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 ParticipantsHumanities: 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: Plants and People, Ecology, Plant BiologyBusiness: Corporate Finance*Chemistry: General Chemistry, Principles of Chemistry

Analytical ChemistryClassics/Art: Ancient ArtComputer Science: Computer Science ICommunications: Research Methods in CommunicationEconomics: 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 LogicPhilosophy: Symbolic LogicPhysics: Physical Principles, Analytical PhysicsPolitical Science: Research Methods in Political SciencePsychology: Human MemorySociology: Sociology of Health, Illness and Medicine, Methods

of Social ResearchStatistics: Introduction to Statistics, Statistical MethodsTheatre: 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 graveyardsCollection 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 MedicineProfessor 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 DesignProfessor Laurie Powell-Ward

Potentials and problems of theatrical lighting through lab exploration with standard industry equipmentScript based design projects

Quantitative concepts – angle, beam spread, intensity, wattage, control board timing

Execution of design allows students to see their schematics “in action”