Teaching Mathematics and Gender at the University Andrea Blunck Department Mathematik Universität...

Teaching Mathematics and Gender at the University

Andrea BlunckDepartment MathematikUniversität Hamburg

Andrea Blunck Teaching Mathematics and Gender 2

Outline of the talk

The courses I teach Aims Methods Some courses in detail

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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)

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The courses I teach

I teach courses on

mathematics

mathematics and gender, for students of mathematics mathematics education gender studies

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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)

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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

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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

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The image of mathematics

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The image of mathematics

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The image of mathematics

mathematics is

many formulas to learn never changing not lively something for nerds and loners something for boys / men

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The image of mathematics

mathematics is

made by men and women creative lively teamwork with many different applications …

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Methodsmore 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

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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

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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.

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Some courses in detailWomen 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)

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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 …

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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

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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.”

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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

Thank you for your attention !!