Fairmont State Students and Faculty Highlight Excellence at WVCTM Conference
Fairmont State University shined at the annual West Virginia Council of Teachers of Mathematics (WVCTM) conference at Stonewall Resort. The conference recognizes educators in mathematics at all academic levels – elementary, middle school, high school, and college. Fairmont State University students received grants to attend the conference, and many of our faculty members presented their research and work throughout.
Four Fairmont State University students, Hailee Linn (Bridgeport, WV), Madison Louk (Lost Creek, WV), Bella Ramsey (Clarksburg, WV), and Kiersten Stout (Lost Creek, WV), applied and were awarded the Student Travel Grant from the West Virginia Space Grant Consortium. These grants help students cover the cost of lodging, registration, and all meals at the conference, as well as mileage to get there.
Attending conferences like this allows undergraduate students opportunities to network with their peers, learn from experienced educators in mathematics, and see new developments in their fields.
"The WVCTM conference provided valuable opportunities to learn new strategies for teaching mathematics, including different subtraction methods and counting activities for elementary-level instruction,” said Ramsey. “Sessions also explained the importance of involving families in students’ mathematical development by using everyday manipulatives available at home. As a future teacher, gaining new instructional strategies and collaborating with other educators will help me support all students in developing strong mathematical skills."
Students’ attendance at the WVCTM Conference is vital to their professional development and an integral part of Fairmont State’s commitment to offering hands-on and diverse learning opportunities.
"I think that the biggest takeaway from the conference is a lot of activities that align with good mathematics teaching that I can apply to my placement and my future classrooms,” said Fairmont State Senior, David Desmuke (Fairmont, WV). “I think as a student observer I didn't quite know how to apply the information I was learning from the conference but as a student teacher with a little more experience the information and connection I get from attending the conference is invaluable."
Associate Professor of Mathematics, Dr. Stephanie Jones, serves as WVCTM College Vice President and has an active role in planning the conference throughout the year. In addition, four Fairmont State University faculty presented sessions throughout the conference, including the following:
- Professor of Mathematics, Dr. Joseph Riesen, presented his work titled, “Math Modeling with Excel.”
- Professor of Mathematics, Dr. Brian Blackwood, presented a session called, “Hidden Structure in Rings: A Graph-Theoretic Exploration.”
- Assistant Professor of Mathematics, Dr. Bishnu Sedai, hosted a session called, “What is a half-derivative? Exploring Fractional Calculus.”
- Assistant Professor of Mathematics Jesse Cook presented, “You’re Never Too Old to Play with Toys: Manipulatives in Abstract Algebra.”
Students and faculty at Fairmont State University make campus A Great Place to Learn, to Work, and to Call Home. Providing opportunities for students to learn from their peers, network with educators, and watch their faculty present helps them develop into even more successful teachers and professionals in the future.
