FOM: A professional development opportunity through an EAF grant

[Sam Buss]

To add to Stene Stevenson's comment:  I took a lot of Moore method
courses in college, from John Neuberger and others; and did an
undergraduate project with Bill Mahavier, also a Moore method teacher.
The Moore method courses were very stimulating and did a lot to develop
my abilities in mathematics.  
  I have occasionally adopted Moore methods in my own teaching.  This quarter,
my mathematical logic course (based on Enderton's book) is turning into
a Moore-method course, with about 50% of the class time devoted to
student presentations.
  I've never tried to teach a purely Moore-method course, but instead adopt
it when it seems needed, e.g., when the students are hopelessly lost.  In
particular, it seems to be about the only way to make my students learn
how to read and write proofs.  

 -- Sam Buss

Matt Insall writes:
 > Dear FOMers,
 >       Some of you may be aware of R.L. Moore and the teaching method he 
 > espoused.  It is referred to as the ``Socratic Method'', the Discovery 
 > Method'', the ``Moore Method'', the ``Texas Method'', and perhaps by 
 > several other names of which I am unaware.  Here at the University of 
 > Missouri - Rolla, professor W.T. Ingram teaches an undergraduate course 
 > called ``Foundations of Mathematics'' using this method, and he also 
 > teaches a Senior/Graduate class in topology by the Moore Method.  His 
 > efforts have lead to a grant from the Educational Advancement Foundation 
 > (see the following url:  http://www.discovery.utexas.edu/)  to provide 
 > funds for visitors to Rolla to learn about this method of teaching.  In 
 > case some of you are interested in this style of teaching, more information 
 > is available through the ``Professional Development Opportunities'' link on 
 > our department web page at
 > 
 > http://www.umr.edu/~mathstat/
 > 
 > If you come, then I would enjoy having some time to visit with you in 
 > person as well.
 > 
 > 
 > 
 > Matt Insall
 > 
 > 
 >