On June 25, we initiated MathPath 2023 at the University of Portland. Families bid farewell to their students as they settled into dormitories for the duration of the month, bringing along their books, games, and, above all, an eagerness to explore the realm of mathematics. On Monday, the first full day of the program, our new students were introduced to MathPath during the opening ceremony, and many families followed along at home by way of livestream. Our Executive Director Lara Pudwell introduced MathPath and its mission while Camp Director April Verser discussed the specifics of daily life at MathPath. Counselors and other staff were introduced before Academic Director Matt Delong discussed the academic side of the program, introducing faculty and giving the students the chance to vote for their week one breakout courses. Our Student Life Director Julie Vega ran a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion activity called “President of the Venn,” where students got to know each other by comparing their interests to others on a Venn diagram.
Counselor Lawrence’s group gets to know each other with a game of duck-duck-goose
By Tuesday, MathPath fell into rhythm as the routine schedule kicked in. Students made their way around campus for their breakouts, plenary lectures and free-time fun. Many of the week one breakouts were MathPath standards. First-time faculty member Prof. Polanco offered “Number Theory 1,” a favorite of students which provides a great introduction to the subject. Prof. Pudwell taught “Basic Counting (Combinatorics)”, which served as both an introductory session and a gateway to more advanced breakout sessions offered later in the month. Some breakouts took a closer look at more specific areas of math. Silas taught “Frieze Groups and Wallpaper Patterns,” where students classified patterns that repeat along a line, such as those that are found on wallpaper. Glen taught “Heavenly Mathematics,” a breakout that inspired his book of the same name, where he shares the history of math as it relates to astronomy.
Students sharing solutions in “Basic Counting (Combinatorics)” with Prof. Pudwell
During their leisure time, MathPathers had the opportunity to interact and forge new friendships. Our counselors organized a diverse range of activities, such as games of Catan, ultimate frisbee matches, walks around the campus, and visiting the library. The counselor groups dined together in the cafeteria, fostering a sense of camaraderie as students swiftly became comfortable with each other, sharing stories, exchanging jokes, and talking about math. Faculty and staff also shared meals and joined in activities with students. MathPathers undoubtedly have much to learn from the faculty we host for the program, and we love when they’re able to interact outside of the classroom.
Prof. Polanco eats lunch with Katie’s counselor group
We closed out week one at MathPath with some trips off campus. On Sunday, we visited the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry as an entire camp. Students played with logic puzzles, tested paper airplanes and visited the exhibit on Orca whales. We ate lunch together outside the museum and enjoyed a view of the Willamette River, with Downtown Portland beyond it. On Monday, students split into smaller groups and took vans all around the city to activities they had voted on in the past week. One group headed on a hike around Horsetail Falls near the Columbia River Gorge. Another faced the challenge of an Escape Room, where they had one hour to solve puzzles together in order to crack the code and escape. Other excursions included a bike tour around Portland, bowling, and indoor rock climbing. We ended the ‘MathPath week’ Monday night with a full-camp viewing of the movie Queen of Katwe (2016), a true story of a talented young chess player from Uganda.
MathPathers at OMSI
We're excited for what's to come in week two, and of course, we'll keep you updated!
Comments
Post a Comment