SIGMAA on Statistics Education

Minutes of the 2006 SIGMAA meeting at the Joint Mathematics Meetings
Friday, January 13, 2006, 5:45 - 7:45 pm
San Antonio, TX

 

Welcome, Introductions, and Reception

            Tom Moore introduced himself as chair of the SIGMAA on Statistics Education. Next, each attendee introduced himself/herself. A short reception followed.  Minutes were made available in hard copy for the perusal of the members.

 

Approval of Minutes from Business Meeting of 1-7-05

            Mary Parker moved to approve the minutes. Pat Humphrey seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously. It was noted that the secretary would make spelling changes as needed.

 

Officer Reports

 

Tom Moore (current chair)

1)        On Thursday morning, there was a good session on the GAISE report along with a session to model courses for mathematics majors.

2)        Announced the contributed paper session that will have papers suggesting ways to implement the six recommendations of the GAISE report. This will be held Saturday afternoon from 1-5:15pm.

3)        Introduced the current and future officers.           

            Tom Moore (chair till end of meeting—now past chair)

            Ginger Holmes Rowell (current chair as of 1-15-06)

            Chris Lacke (chair elect)      

                        Sue Schou (secretary)

                        Chris Lacke (treasurer till end of meeting)

                        Murray Siegel (current treasurer)

4)        Last year, the SIGMAA decided to give a contributed paper

       award with the selection of the winner based upon the      

       average rating for each talk using audience responses.

       The process will be posted on the  SIGMAA on Statistics    

       Education web site before the next meeting.

5)   Dex Whittinghill was recognized for his contribution to the                 

                  beginning of the SIGMAA on Statistics Education by naming                                    the  contributed paper award, the Dexter Whittinghill                                                  Contributed  Paper Award and honored with a                                                                  commemorative plaque. Dex thanked both Tom Moore and

                  Alan Rossman for suggesting the idea of a SIGMAA.

 

Ginger Holmes-Rowell (chair elect):

            No report.

 

John McKenzie (past chair):

            The past chair reported that he had the responsibility for running the recent election. The newly elected officers were previously announced.

 

Chris Lacke (treasurer):

1)        Treasurer’s report handed out.

2)        First time honoraria actually being paid.

3)        Notice the SIGMAA on Statistics Education is just a bit down in paid members.

4)        Will try to have a presence at the MathFest this year so may use those funds this year.

5)        Will have a mandated mailing so materials item in budget may be used.

6)        Must spend our funds since this is a non-profit organization. New awards will help balance the budget.

 

Old Business

 

Charter Review—report by John McKenzie

1)       The charter must be revised for elections. The officers received

       Information on how the MAA will run the elections. The central

       office of the MAA will receive the nominations by either April or 

       October and have electronic voting available with paper ballot

       optional.

2)       Voting for our SIGMAA will be in October which does not fit our         

       current charter.

3)       Other changes are being considered such as more committees

       and additional officers. May have an awards committee and

       an elected position for publications.

            4)   The MAA Board of Governors may change our charter at any                                            time. Ann Watkins pointed out that this is for all portions of the                                     association to ensure compliance with federal laws for nonprofit     

                 organizations.

 

Awards---report by Chris Lacke

1)          Examining an award for teaching for a TA who is actually       

        teaching. A half sheet explaining the proposal was handed

        out.

2)          Discussion ensued with a number of good suggestions. These included: 

            John McKenzie: place online for suggestions

            Dex Whittinghill: volunteered for awards committee and limit the                number of recommendation letters

            Mary Sullivan: make language more specific about what is actually          being awarded

            Ann Watkins:  what is the purpose of the award?

            Dennis Walsh:  make it simple

           Alan Rossman: make the award for an individual in their first three years of teaching statistics in a mathematics department

3)          Student poster award?  Do we wish to do this?

4)          Implementation: Chris Lacke suggested having statistics posters set up at SIGMAA on Statistics Education meeting for perusal with audience selection. Robyn Locke suggested using the regular poster session and volunteer judges for the award.            

 

New Business

 

MathFest:

1)      Wish to have a presence this year.

2)      Murray Siegel volunteered to coordinate the effort. He is thinking of offering some activity related to AP statistics.

3)      It may be too late.

 

Webmaster:

            Paul Pasles has been the webmaster. A request was made for volunteers. Dov Chelst from DeVry University volunteered to be the new webmaster.

 

Report from Don Bentley:

1)      ASA Board of Directors refused to endorse the language proposed by the Committee on Professions.

2)      New document available on the web that all new faculty should read – Programs and Departments in Mathematical Sciences.

3)      MAA must define scholarship. How is that different in the statistical sciences….how to incorporate consulting?

4)      MAA must develop a standard for ethics in the profession. Need input. Are there elements peculiar to statistics? John McKenzie suggested the ASA document on ethics.

5)      Assessment for all undergraduate education based on federal guidelines may be coming.

 

Statistical Literacy: 

            Milo Schield briefly discussed a new course that he has developed. Anyone interested may contact him by email.

 

Activity with prizes run by John McKenzie

            Sudoku puzzles were handed out and teams of three worked on these with more time allowed for more difficult puzzles. Five teams were winners. The fifteen winners were then asked to guess a closest value for a question such as: How many members are currently in the MAA? Pat Humphrey was the first winner and chose a wonderful cookbook. There were a variety of prizes including Minitab 14 professional software and excellent statistics texts donated by a number of vendors. All attendees won a Minitab pen for participating.

 

Meeting adjourned by acclimation at 7:45pm.

 

 

Anway, Dorothy

University of Wisconsin - Superior

Bentley, Don

Pomona College (retired)

Boynton, Nancy

SUNY Fredonia

Carter, Cathy

Christian Brothers University

Chelst, Dov

Devry University

Clark, Julie

Hollins University

Cuff, Carolyn

Westminster College

delMas, Bob

University of Minnesota

Fitchett, Steph

Florida Atlantic University

Freed, Ben

Clarion University

Humphrey, Pat

Georgia Southern University

Kader, Gary

Appalachian State University

Kerns, Jay

Youngstown State

Lacke, Chris

Rowan University

Litman, George

National-Louis University

Lock, Robin

St Lawrence University

McKenzie, John

Babson College

Moore, Tom

Grinnell College

Parker, Mary

Austin Community College

Perry, Mike

Appalachian State University

Rossman, Allan

Cal Poly – San Luis Obispo

Rowell, Ginger Holmes

Middle Tennessee State University

Schield, Milo

Augsburg College

Schou, Sue

Idaho State University

Siegel, Murray

South Carolina Governor’s School

So, Wasin

San Jose State University

Sullivan, Mary M.

Rhode Island College

Timothy, Brent

BYU-Idaho

Wainwright, Barbara

Salisbury University

Walsh, Dennis

Middle Tennessee State University

Watkins, Ann

Cal State Northridge

Whittinghill, Dex

Rowan University

 

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