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Teaching Mathematics and Gender at the University. Andrea Blunck Department Mathematik Universität Hamburg. Outline of the talk. The courses I teach Aims Methods Some courses in detail. The courses I teach. My professorship: Mathematics & Gender Studies
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Teaching Mathematics and Gender at the University Andrea Blunck Department Mathematik Universität Hamburg
Outline of the talk • The courses I teach • Aims • Methods • Some courses in detail Teaching Mathematics and Gender
The courses I teach My professorship: Mathematics & Gender Studies • at the Department of Mathematics • so far: cooperation with the study program “Gender Studies Hamburg” (ending) Teaching Mathematics and Gender
The courses I teach I teach courses on • mathematics • mathematics and gender, for students of • mathematics • mathematics education • gender studies Teaching Mathematics and Gender
The courses I teach • Course of lectures „Women in the history of mathematics“ • Seminars on topics like „Women in mathematics“, „Mathematics and gender“, etc. • Course „Gender in MIN (=mathematics, informatics, natural sciences)“, joint with Prof. Dr. Ingrid Schirmer (Dept. Informatics) Teaching Mathematics and Gender
Aims direct, obvious aims: • raise students‘ awareness for „gender and mathematics“, “women and mathematics”, “girls and mathematics” • make the contributions of women to mathematics visible • present female role models • motivate female students Teaching Mathematics and Gender
Aims more general aims: • help changing the image of mathematics • initialize students’ reflection on mathematics • help students get a personal relationship to mathematics • motivate them to continue their studies Teaching Mathematics and Gender
The image of mathematics Teaching Mathematics and Gender
The image of mathematics Teaching Mathematics and Gender
The image of mathematics mathematicsis • many formulas to learn • never changing • not lively • something for nerds and loners • something for boys / men Teaching Mathematics and Gender
The image of mathematics mathematicsis • made by men and women • creative • lively • teamwork • with many different applications • … Teaching Mathematics and Gender
Methods more general: • look at mathematics from outside, from different points of view • teach (in extra seminars, or integrated in ordinary mathematics courses) topics like • interrelations between mathematics and society • history of mathematics • mathematics in other cultures Teaching Mathematics and Gender
Methods • use methods that are activating and unusual for mathematics courses, like • read and discuss texts • discuss on controversial subjects • work in small groups • let students prepare sessions • cooperate with students from other disciplines Teaching Mathematics and Gender
Some courses in detail Women in the history of mathematics: • Life and work of 12 women mathematicians • Special view on the history of mathematics, history of women's education, history of science and of scientific institutions. Teaching Mathematics and Gender
Some courses in detail Women in the history of mathematics: • Hypatia (370 – 415) • Emilie du Châtelet (1706 – 1749) • Maria Gaetana Agnesi (1718 – 1799) • Sophie Germain (1776 – 1831) • Mary Somerville (1780 – 1872) • Ada Lovelace (1815 – 1852) • Sofia Kovalevskaya (1850 – 1891) • Christine Ladd-Franklin (1847 – 1930) • Charlotte A. Scott (1858 – 1931) • Grace Chisholm Young (1868 – 1944) • Emmy Noether (1882 – 1935) • Ruth Moufang (1905 – 1977) Teaching Mathematics and Gender
Some courses in detail Seminars: • Women in mathematics – yesterday and today • Gender and science – an introduction (joint with Dr. Helene Götschel) • Gender and mathematics • Gender, mathematics, and technology • … Teaching Mathematics and Gender
Some courses in detail Seminar on Women and mathematics Topics: • What is mathematics? • The (male) image of mathematics • History of women’s education • History of mathematics education • Gender-sensitive mathematics teaching • Biographies of women mathematicians • Gender studies and mathematics Teaching Mathematics and Gender
Some courses in detail Students’ feedback: I liked • “that we discussed a lot and didn’t only let the lecture wash over us” • “participants from different subjects! So interesting discussions came up.” Teaching Mathematics and Gender
Conclusion Teaching gender topics to students of mathematics • gives the students • a new view on their subject • new motivation for their subject • encourages female students • helps changing the image of mathematics Teaching Mathematics and Gender