Ivan Blank
| Address for snail mail: Ivan Blank Kansas State University Dept. of Mathematics 138 Cardwell Hall Manhattan, KS 66506-2602 Office: Cardwell Hall 27 Phone: (785) 532-0536 (A bad way to reach me.) E-mail: blanki@ZZZmath.ksu.edu (A good way to reach me.) (Take out the "ZZZ" which is just there to avoid email from robots.) Office Hours: Always on First Day Handouts Check individual course pages |
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Course Description
Topics in Applied Math - Spring 2010Links to Course Pages
Elementary
Differential Equations: Math 240
Elementary
Numerical
Analysis: Math 655
Mathematics
for Elementary
School Teachers: Math 320 C
Mathematics
for Elementary
School Teachers: Math 320 C. Old page.
Introduction
to
Contemporary Mathematics: Math 160 D
Resources for Advanced Engineering
Mathematics Students
Resources for Students
Vector Calc Notes (pdf version) Vector Calc Notes (ps version)First Order ODE Notes (pdf version) First Order ODE Notes (ps version)
Second Order ODE Notes (pdf version) Second Order ODE Notes (ps version)
Curve Formulas (pdf version) Curve Formulas (ps version)
Some Old Cheat Sheets
Cheat Sheet (pdf version) Cheat Sheet (ps version)Education
• Mathematically Correct is a "web site devoted to the concerns raised by parents and scientists about the invasion of our schools by the New-New Math and the need to restore basic skills to math education."• H.O.L.D. or Honest Open Logical Debate on math reform is an organization which is also in favor of more traditional pedagogy in mathematics.
• If want a crash course in some of the history of the reform movements which have plagued Mathematics over the past century, then I would suggest A Brief History of American K-12 Mathematics Education in the 20th Century by David Klein. (It took me a couple of hours to read, but it is very well written and very well documented. It should be required reading for all parents and all educators!)
• A much faster read can be found in James Milgram's Testimony to the Senate. (Milgram is a professor of Mathematics at Stanford.)
• For a more general introduction to the decay within American education I would suggest reading Dumbing Down Our Kids: Why American Children Feel Good about Themselves but Can't Read, Write, or Add, by Charles J. Sykes.