I studied mathematics through a master's degree, and took another 57 semester hours of mathematics courses to complement my Ph.D. in mathematics education. My doctoral work was on ways for mathematics teaching to encourage intellectual, ethical, and identity development.
This preparation was especially useful in 30 years of formal teaching, of mathematics and mathematics education, and in working with teachers in workshops. The teaching included working with technology as it became available. I learned computer programming (in many languages) and taught some computer science. I also studied artificial intelligence, seeking insight from machine learning into how my own students and I learned.
I left the full-time classroom in 2000 and spent 15 years working with teachers, through writing and editing materials for publishers and as an occasional adjunct faculty member. I combined my teaching and professional developing experience with interests in writing, programming, and artificial intelligence to develop simulations for helping prospective and current teachers. The experience I gained in this area also gave me skills at web and database programming. These came in very useful in helping create the Odysseys2Sense web site to develop higher-order thinking skills through civil discourse.
Currently, I still edit, including non-technical work. My current professional project, with co-conspirator Benjamin Cooper, is focused on mathematical questioning. The Curious Mathematics materials will allow folks to tour much of mathematics by following their own curiosity. Stay tuned!
And the mathematics of contra dancing continues to fascinate me.
Here is a collection of selected papers I have written.
And here are some materials from recent talks I've given.
I'm married to science educator and chemist Jane Snell Copes, of Science Outside the Box fame, and we have a daughter Lynn, a doctoral student in paleoanthropology. I enjoy classical music, reading, walking, and contra dancing.
How can I help you? Contact me