The Ross Program, HCSSiM, and ProMYS

露美富夢　 Tom RobyDept. of Math & Comp.

Sci.California State University

Hayward, CA (near San Francisco)

http://seki.csuhayward.edu

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Outline My Background The (Arnold) Ross Program ProMYS at Boston University Hampshire College SSiM Compare & Contrast

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My Background

Participated in Ross program in 1979-80. Head Counselor at Ross 1981-83 Senior Staff at HCSSiM 1987-88 Founding Head Counselor at ProMYS 1989-90 Recitation Instructor at ProMYS 1990-91 Returned to ProMYS in 2000 to work with HS

students and inservice teachers. Directed large professional development program

(ACCLAIM) for K-12 public school teachers 2000-03: Over 1000 served in 2-3 week institutes. About 350 served in Summer 2004 on district funding.

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Arnold Ross (1906-2002)

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The Ross Program

Began in Notre Dame in 1957-63 Ohio State 1964-74; 1979-present University of Chicago: 1975-79 (Sally, et. al) 8-week residential summer program Multilevel: many return, some as counselors Basis of 1st year program are brilliant collection

of exploratory problem sets created and refined by Ross over decades.

“Lectures” are very open ended, ex post facto

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Ross Program 2

Students encouraged to work together One midterm and final, scores private Counselors play a key role in marking

problem sets, giving hints, encouraging, serving as roles models

Counselors and advanced participants have wide variety of unusual courses

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Ross Program 3

Ross heavily influenced by S.O. Shatunovsky in Odessa and

E. H. Moore at Chicago Large amount of funding from NSF

(SSTP, Young Scholars) in earlier years

Much harder nowadays, but AMS Epsilon fund and Clay Foundation have been helpful

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Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists (ProMYS) at Boston U.

Founded by Glenn Stevens and David Fried, both former counselors at Ross

Modeled closely on the Ross Program, but only 6 weeks long

Same problem sets for first-years Difficulties of getting started. 1989-present

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Hampshire College Summer Studies in Mathematics (HCSSiM)

Founded and run by (David) Kelly 4-hour morning classes (8:34-12:34) 3-hour problem sessions (19:17-

22:17) No exams or grades, but students

write self-evaluations and faculty write evaluations of students

Inclusive, fun, relaxed atmosphere Kelly will tell you more

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Comparison with Contests

Provide much needed peer group support

Provide much needed challenge Bring students into mathematics Help students with problem solving

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Contrast with Contests

Competitive aspect is de-emphasized Go deeper into mathematical topics Allow more time for exploration Help bridge the gap from solving 5 (sec, min,

hr) problems to doing research Encourage collaboration (cf. joint authorship) Please encourage your students to come! But please explain how this will be different.

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Perennial Issues

Diversity: Insuring that we draw talent from all sectors of the community

Handling charges of “Elitism” Being misunderstood Funding Public Relations: Can we

collaborate?

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References

Google “arnold ross” Google “promys” Google “hcssim” Google “tom roby” http://www.ams.org/outreach/mathcamps.html