News

Internationally known scholars Gary Urton and Arthur Powell will speak at Portland State University for the second seminar series on “Alternative Forms of Knowledge Construction in Mathematics,” June 7 and 21, 2007.

This seminar series continues to explore ways in which mathematics permeates people’s lives in cultural contexts throughout the world, taking an alternative approach to the age-old question from students: Why does math matter?

All lectures are free and open to the public. The seminars take place in Neuberger Hall, room 454 (724 SW Harrison). For more information or to inquire about course credit, contact Swapna Mukhopadhyay at 503-725-8495 or swapna@pdx.edu.

Thursday, June 7, 2007, 6:15–7:45 p.m.
“An Integrated Science of Strings, Colors, Knots and Numbers in the Ancient Andes,” – Gary Urton, professor, Dumbarton Oaks Professor of Pre-Columbian Studies, Department of Anthropology, Harvard University

The talk will focus on the knotted-string device known as the Quipu (“knot”), which was used for record-keeping in the Inka empire of Pre-Columbian South America. The Inka version of this device descended from an earlier form of record-keeping based on colorfully wrapped cords. Urton will explore the relationship between colors and numbers in the quipu as well as examine the forms and level of arithmetic and mathematical complexity attained by the cord-keepers of the Inka empire.

Moderators for the lecture include Portland States’s Ramin Farahmandpur, Graduate School of Education; Michael Flower, University Honors; Ron Narode, Graduate School of Education; Steve Reder, Applied Linguistics; and Tom Thornton, Anthropology. For more information on Gary Urton visit http://khipukamayuq.fas.harvard.edu/Researchers.html.

Thursday, June 21, 2007, 6:15–7:45 p.m.
“Ethnomathematics and Information and Communication Technologies in Mathematics Education,” – Arthur Powell, associate professor, Rutgers University at Newark

This presentation will analyze how particular patterns of access and use of information and communication technologies in mathematics education contribute to socioeconomic inequalities. Powell will explore the significant differences across socioeconomic lines in the instructional use of digital technologies. In particular, the presentation will elaborate how dominant uses of digital technologies in classrooms are narrow and how new technologies presented in more intellectually interesting ways could serve to bring communities together, rather than further their isolation and social exclusion.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (#07-072)

Source: Swapna Mukhopadhyay (503-725-8495)
PSU Graduate School of Education