Looking back at 2010

(cross-posted from https://sites.google.com/site/proofseekers09/blog/todaysmeetingabouts10andbeyond)


We are meeting for the proof seekers today at two in Meadows. I am excited about it and cannot wait to hear all the great ideas we are going to discuss. If you have any input on this or any other issue with the Math Club and would like to talk to me, I am more than willing to listen to you. :)

Today, at the proof seeker officer meet, my main focus will be on increasing student participation in the math club. One of the ways we could accomplish this is through incentives for participation. According to incentive theory, positive reinforcements are a most effective way to help shape behavior. In this light, with the support of participating professors, we might be able to encourage participation in various activities at the math club.  Another effective way could be to make the events fun. I would like to learn more on what you guys find fun*. 

Another point of interest that I would like to discuss today is a statistics on The Colbert Report (Hulu link) on Wednesday. According to Arthur Benjamin who is a Math Professor at Harvey Mudd a self-styled Mathemagician, people who take more college courses in math make more money through their professional careers. Perhaps, we should encourage students to take more math classes than required in their degree plans (at least those students who started on or before Spring 2010, more on this later). 

* Ideally, it should have something to do with math but that should not be a problem. We probably need to search hard to find an activity that has nothing to do with math (even if the math is really keeping score). 

Thank you for reading. Ciao!
— Kushal 

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