Navajo Math Circles, A film by George Paul Csicsery; Followed by Q&A with Robert M. Klein
Document Type
Presentation Abstract
Presentation Date
11-14-2016
Abstract
Navajo Math Circles opens a window on the lives of several Navajo students who have participated in a lively collaboration with mathematicians and math educators since 2012. The students stay late after school and assemble over the summer to study mathematics, using a model called Math Circles. This notion of student-centered learning puts children in charge of exploring mathematics to their own joy and satisfaction, with potentially long-lasting results.
The documentary reveals the challenges of education in the largely rural educational system. Preservation of native culture, traditions, and the Diné language are essential components of the Navajo Math Circles project. For the teachers, the natural beauty of the Navajo reservation in the Four Corners area, and applications of math in native culture provide tools for increasing math literacy. The presence of Math Circles raises the hopes of parents, students, and teachers for a brighter future.
A question and answer forum with Bob Klein (Ohio University) will follow the presentation of the film. Dr. Klein is one of the directors of the program.
Recommended Citation
Klein, Robert M., "Navajo Math Circles, A film by George Paul Csicsery; Followed by Q&A with Robert M. Klein" (2016). Colloquia of the Department of Mathematical Sciences. 507.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/mathcolloquia/507
Additional Details
Navajo Math Circles website
Monday, November 14, 2016 at 3:00 p.m. in Math 103
Refreshments at 4:15 p.m. in Math Lounge 109