VITA <> 
                                                                   Betsy Darken

 

Department of Mathematics, Dept 6956                                    phone:  (423) 425-4580

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga                                    email:  betsy-darken@utc.edu

Chattanooga, TN 37403-2598                                                 fax:  (423) 425-4586

 

 

Education

 

Degree                                                      Year                   Institution

Ph.D., Mathematics Education                    1984                   University of Tennessee

M.A., Mathematics                                     1974                   University of Michigan

B.A., Mathematics                                      1972                   Kirkland College

 

 

Professional Experience

 

Professor, Mathematics                               2004-present       University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Associate Professor, Mathematics               1987 - 2004        University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Director, Developmental Mathematics         1981 - 1995        University of Tennessee at Chattanooga 

Assistant Professor, Mathematics                1985 - 1987        University of Tennessee at Chattanooga 

Instructor, Mathematics                               1979  - 1985       University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Instructor, Developmental Mathematics       1978 - 1979         Augusta College

Instructor, Developmental Mathematics       1976 - 1978         Armstrong State College

Teaching Fellow, Mathematics                    1972 - 1976         University of Michigan

 

 

Memberships in Professional Societies

 

Mathematical Association of America

National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

American Mathematics Association for Two Year Colleges

Chattanooga Area Mathematics Teachers Association

Association for Mathematics Teacher Educators

 

Books

 

Fundamental Mathematics for Elementary and Middle School Teachers, 2nd ed., Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, 2005

<>Solutions Manual for Fundamental Mathematics for Elementary and Middle School Teachers, 2nd ed.,Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, 2005 

Fundamental Mathematics for Elementary and Middle School Teachers, Annotated Instructor’s Edition, 2nd ed., Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, 2005


Refereed Publications

 

  9. “Evaluating Calculus Reform:  A Review and a Longitudinal Study” (primary author, with Robert Wynegar and Stephen Kuhn), in Research in Collegiate Mathematics Education IV, Schoenfeld, A. H., Kaput, J., & Dubinsky, E., eds., 2000.

  8. “National Standards for Developmental and Introductory College Mathematics”, Proceedings of the Nineteenth Annual Conference of the National Association for Developmental Education, Higbee, J.L., & Dwinnell, P.L., Eds., 1996.

  7. “Standards for Introductory College Mathematics:  A Conversation with Marilyn Mays, President of the American Mathematical Association of Two Year Colleges”, Journal of Developmental Education, 19(2), Winter 1995,  pp. 22-26.

  6. Crossroads in Mathematics:  Standards for Introductory College Mathematics, (member of the Project Task Force), American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges, 1995.

  5. "Mathematics through the Rear View Mirror:  the Critical Importance of Looking Back", Perspectives on Practice in Developmental Education, New York College Learning Skills Association, 1992, pp. 54-57.

  4. "Arithmetic + Calculators + College Students = ?", Journal of Developmental Education, 15(2), Winter, 1991, pp. 6-12.

  3. "There's Something Odd About Cubics", The Mathematics Teacher, 76(3), March, 1983,

      pp. 203-204.

  2. "Misguided Mathematical Maxim-Makers" (reprint of 1)), Matimyas Mathematika , published jointly by the University of the Philippines Science Education Center and the Ateneo-FAPE Graduate Center for Mathematics, 6(2), April 1982, pp. 25-33.

  1. "Misguided Mathematical Maxim-Makers", Two-Year College Mathematics Journal, 12(5), November, 1981, pp. 309-316.

 

 

Special Report (result of a university-wide multi-year project)

 

      Final Recommendations for a Revised General Education Curriculum, (primary author and editor), UTC Document Source, 1997.  [Recommendations approved by the UTC faculty, January 1998.]

 

 

Other Publications

      

13. “Why A New Math Curriculum for Hamilton County?”, guest editorial, The Chattanooga Times-New Free Press, Sunday, October 24, 1999.

12. “An Analysis of Resources Needed for the Proposed General Education Curriculum”, UTC Document Source, 1998.

11. “Professor Explains Fears and Myths to Math Phobics”, The University Echo, January 12, 1995.

10. “Standards for Developmental Mathematics:  A Vision for the 21st Century”, lead article of the Mathematics SPIN Newsletter of the National Association for Developmental Education, Winter, 1994.

  9. “Co-Chair’s Report”, Mathematics SPIN Newsletter of the National Association for Developmental Education, Winter, 1993.

  8. “Effectiveness Committee Report”, Mathematics SPIN Newsletter of the National Association for Developmental Education, Winter, 1993.

  7. “Living in Interesting Times”, Mathematics SPIN Newsletter of the National Association for Developmental Education, Spring, 1992.

  6. Mathematics Section of the UTC Undergraduate Advisement Manual, 1991.

  5. The Tennessee Early Mathematics Placement Test:  A Guide for High School Students 

      (primary author), The Task Force for Improving Mathematics Education, Chattanooga State Technical Community College Printing Office, 1991.

  4. The Tennessee Early Mathematics Placement Test:  A Guide for Parents of High School Students (primary author), The Task Force for Improving Mathematics Education, Chattanooga State Technical Community College Printing Office, 1991.

  3. "Helping Students Meet the Challenge of Mathematics", in Essential Arithmetic  (6th Ed.) by Johnston, Willis & Lazaris, Wadsworth Pub Co., 1990.

  2. Mathematics 106 Study Guide, UTC Graphic Services, 150 pp.  Many editions.

  1. Mathematics 105 Study Guide, UTC Graphic Services, 150 pp.  Many editions.

 

 

Publications in Preparation

 

2.    Longitudinal Effects of Calculus Reform at Six Institutions, primary author; with S. Ganter, Clemson University, and J. Bookman, Duke University.

1.    Effects of a Mathematics Content Course on the Mathematical Knowledge of Future K-8 Teachers

 

National and Regional Presentations and Workshops

     

33. “Developing a Deeper Understanding of K-8 Mathematics While Reviewing the Basics:  How Little Our Future Teachers Know—and How Much They Can Learn,”  Joint MAA/AMS Mathematics Meetings, Atlanta, GA, 2005.

32. “0 to 60 in 15 Weeks:  What can be Accomplished in Mathematics Content Courses for Future K-8 teachers,” two-hour workshop, American Mathematical Association for Two-Year Colleges national meeting, Orlando, FL, November 2004.

31. “What Algebra Teachers Wish They had Known Beforehand” (organizer), TMTA annual meeting, Chattanooga, TN, September, 2004.

30. “K-8 Teachers Discuss Preservice Mathematics Education” (organizer), TMTA annual meeting, Chattanooga, TN, September, 2004.

29. “Understanding Basic Operations…or How to Avoid Getting Replaced by a Machine,”  TMTA annual meeting, Chattanooga, TN, September, 2004.

28. “Longitudinal Effects of Calculus Reform,” NCTM national meeting, Philadelphia, April 2004.

27. “Developing a Profound Understanding of Division and Proportional Reasoning,” NCTM national meeting, Philadelphia,  April, 2004.

26. The Impact of Technology in Calculus Courses on Long-Term Student Performance and Employment (panel member), Joint MAA/AMS Math Meetings, Phoenix, January, 2004.

25. Breaking the Cycle of Mediocrity:  Developing a Profound Understanding of Fundamental Mathematics, American Mathematical Association for Two-Year Colleges national meeting, Salt Lake City, November, 2003.

24. Breaking the Cycle of Mediocrity:  Developing a Profound Understanding of Fundamental Mathematics, MAA Southeastern Regional Meeting, Clemson, NC, March 2003.

23. Breaking the Cycle of Weak American Mathematics Education:  Educating Future Teachers to Move Beyond Facts and Procedures, 14th Annual Mathematics Conference, Georgia Perimeter College, February, 2001.

22. “New Standards for Lower Level Mathematics”, Invited Keynote Speaker at Crossroads in Mathematics:  Conference on Standards for Introductory College Mathematics through Calculus, Chattanooga, TN, November 1996.

21. “AMATYC Standards for Introductory College Mathematics”, Annual NADE conference, Chicago, February 1995.

20. “Standards for Developmental Mathematics:  A Vision for the 21st Century”, Annual NADE conference, Kansas City, March 1994.

19. “The World Changed When We Weren’t Looking:  Graphing Calculators and other

      Bombshells”, Annual NADE conference, Kansas City, March 1994.

18. “The Need for Evaluation and Curricular Reform in Developmental Mathematics”, Annual NADE conference, Washington DC, March 1993.

17. "Inside the Japanese Classroom:  It's all the same . . . and it's all different",  Annual NCTM conference, Nashville TN, April 1992.

16. "The Developmental Mathematics Curriculum:  Are We Out-of-Date?", Annual NADE conference, San Antonio TX, March 1992.

15. "Overview of a Developmental Mathematics Program", Annual NADE conference, Nashville TN, March 1991.

14. "Criteria for Evaluating the Effectiveness of Developmental Mathematics Programs", Annual NADE conference, Nashville TN, March 1991.

13. "Arithmetic + Calculators + College Students = ?",  Annual NADE conference, Boston MA, March 1990.

12. "Bridging the Chasm:  Developmental Mathematics", overview segment of a videotape produced by the NADE Mathematics Task Force, 1990.

11. "How to Lie with Statistics", regional conference of Mu Alpha Theta, Farragut High School, Knoxville TN, April 1990.

10. "The Status of Developmental Mathematics", Regional MAA conference, April 1989.

  9. "The Status of Developmental Mathematics", Annual NADE conference, Cincinnati OH, March 1989.

  8. "The Story of a Mathematics Placement Program  . . . or How We Learned to Live with the Facts", Annual NCTM conference, Chicago, April 1988.

  7. "The Do's and Don'ts of Developmental Mathematics:  Practical Suggestions Based on Field Experience", Annual NADE conference, Orlando, March 1988.

  6. "Characteristics of the Developmental Mathematics Program at UTC", Annual NCTM conference, April 1987.

  5. "An Experiment on Class Size", Southeast Regional MAA Conference, Auburn, AL, April 1986.

  4. "Do You Want a Successful and Cost-Effective Developmental Program?  Use Tutors!"  Annual NADE conference, Chicago, March 1986.

  3. "Admissions Policies and Developmental Programs in the UT System",  Annual TMTA conference, Jefferson City  TN, May 1985.

  2. "Placement and Remedial Programs:  Is Justice Being Done?", Regional NCTM conference, Knoxville TN, October 1983.

  1. "Critical Factors of a Developmental Mathematics Program", TMTA conference, Cookeville  TN, May 1982.

 

 

Local Presentations and Workshops

 

16. “0 to 60 in 15 Weeks:  What can be Accomplished in Mathematics Content Courses for Future K-8 teachers,” UTC Mathematics Department Colloquium, January 2005.

15. “What We Wish We Had Learned Beforehand:  7-12” (organizer), CAMTA Winter Conference, February, 2004.

14. “What We Wish We Had Learned Beforehand:  K-7” (organizer), CAMTA Winter Conference, February, 2004.

13. Learning How to Do It or Why It Works:  Which Should Come First?, UTC Mathematics Department Colloquium, Fall 2002.

12. Beyond 2 + 3:  What Future American Teachers Need to Know about Not-So-Elementary Mathematics, UTC Mathematics Department Colloquium, February 2001.

11. Why Johnny Can’t Do Math:  Clues to an American Dilemma,” UTC Mathematics Department Colloquium, January,  2000.

10. Why Our Mathematics Textbooks Needed to be Changed,”  presentation to the Hamilton County School Board, Fall, 1999.

  9. Covering and Surrounding,” workshop for Hamilton County middle school teachers, August, 1999.

  8. A Comparison of Student Performance in Traditional and Reform Calculus”, Departmental Colloquium, Fall 1998.

  7. Writing and Mathematics:  Oxymoronic or Symbiotic?”, Departmental Colloquium, September 1997.

  6. If the Calculator Can Do It, Why Should I?  . . . or What is Important to Learn Anymore?”, Invited Address to the Fall Meeting of the Chattanooga Area Mathematics Teachers’ Association, October 1995.

  5. Middle and High School Mathematics, the NCTM Standards and the Real World”, workshop conducted with the mathematics faculty of the Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences”, August 1995.

  4. Mathematics:  Just Do It!  Elementary Mathematics and the Real World”,  Three Day Workshop for Mathematics Teachers in the K-12 Chattanooga Public Schools Paideia Program, Chattanooga, TN, July 1995.

  3. Developmental Mathematics and the Graphing Calculator:  An Oxymoron?”, UTC Mathematics Department Colloquium Series, April 1995.

  2. Inside the Japanese Classroom:  It's all the same . . . and it's all different",  Mathematics      Department Colloquium Series, October 1994.

  1. How to Lie with Statistics", Centennial Mathematics Symposium, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, February 1987.

 

 

Grants and Consultant Work

 

19. “Assessing mathematical content knowledge of preservice K-8 teachers,” $3,000, funded by the UTC Faculty Research Grant program, 2004.

18. Statistical consultant for the NSF grant, The Impact of Calculus Reform on Long-Term Student Performance, with principal investigators at Clemson and Duke Universities, and participating institutions including University of Nebraska at Lincoln, University of Arizona, U.S. Naval Academy, Rose Hulman Institute of Technology, and Colorado State University, $9548, 2003-2004.  

17. “The Life of the Mind:  Revitalizing General Education at UTC, Year 3” (with Jane Harbaugh), $75,000, funded by the UC Foundation, 2000.

16. “Standards-Based Mathematics in the Middle School,”  $27,000, funded by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission Eisenhower Professional Development Program, 2000.

15. "Implementing Change in Mathematics and Methods Courses for Early Childhood and Middle School Preservice Teachers," $25,000, (under the direction of D. McAllister), funded by the NASA NOVA Project, 1999-2000.

14. “Evaluating the Effectiveness of Developmental Mathematics Programs,”  $2,145, funded by the UTC Faculty Research Grant Program, 1999.

13. “Development of a New Course for Future K-8 Teachers, $1,400, funded by the UTC General Education Committee, 1999.  

12. “The Life of the Mind:  Revitalizing General Education at UTC, Year 2” (with Jane Harbaugh), $125,000, funded by the UC Foundation, 1999.

11. “The Life of the Mind:  Revitalizing General Education at UTC” (with Jane Harbaugh), $38,000, funded by the    Foundation, 1998.

10. “Developing Criteria for Evaluating Developmental Mathematics Programs,” $2500 grant funded by the UTC Faculty Research Committee, Summer 1997.

  9. “Updating the UTC Mathematics Curriculum for Future K-8 Teachers, $2000, funded by UTC Instructional Excellence grant, 1995.

  8. “The Revision of Mathematics 115 and 116 for Elementary and Special Education Majors”, $3550, funded by the Mathematics Department through an Instructional Excellence grant, Spring Semester, 1994.

<>  7. “Integrating Technology into the Mathematics Curriculum”, $905 grant funded by the UTC Faculty Development Committee, November 1993. 

  6. "The Joint Task Force for Improving Mathematics Education:  The Tennessee Early Mathematics Placement Test (TEMPT) Program",  $1000 grant funded by the Tennessee Collaborative for Educational Excellence, 1991.

  5. "The Joint Task Force for Improving Mathematics Education:  The Tennessee Early Mathematics Placement Test (TEMPT) Program",  $1000, funded by the Tennessee Collaborative for Educational Excellence, 1990.

  4. "Mathematics Education in Japan", $1200 grant funded by the   Foundation, Summer 1990.

  3. "Evaluation of the UTC Developmental Mathematics Program and Placement System: Part 2",  $1500, funded by the UTC Research Committee, Summer 1988.

  2. "Evaluation of the UTC Developmental Mathematics Program and Placement System",  $1500, funded by the UTC Research Committee, 1987.

  1. "Undergraduate Excellence in Mathematics" (co-author), funded by the State of Tennessee, 1986-1987.

 

 

Honors and Awards

 

Outstanding Article of Volume 15 for "Arithmetic + Calculators + College Students = ?", Journal of Developmental Education, 1992.

Exceptional Merit Rating, 1985-1986, 1986-1987, 1988-1989, 1992-1993, 1996-1997, 1997-1998, 2003-2004.

 

 

Service to Professional Organizations

 

Program Chair, Winter Conference of the Chattanooga Area Mathematics Teachers Association,          February, 2004.

Vice-President for Higher Education, Chattanooga Area Mathematics Teachers Association.

Consultant for “Crossroads Revisited,” a project sponsored by the American Mathematical       Association of Two Year Colleges, 2003-2004.

Chief organizer of “Crossroads in Mathematics”, a regional conference on standards for introductory college mathematics, November 1996.

Reviewer, Journal of Developmental Education, 1994 - 1998.

Member, College Board Computerized Placement Test Development Committee, 1994 - 1995.

Member, Outstanding Article Selection Panel, Journal of Developmental Education, 1993-1994.

Co-Chair, Developmental Mathematics Committee of the Curriculum and Pedagogy Reform Project for Mathematics in the First Two Years of College, sponsored by the American Mathematical Association of Two Year Colleges, 1993-1995.

Co-Chair, Developmental Mathematics Committee, National Association for Developmental Education, 1991-1995.

Chair, Developmental Mathematics Committee, National Association for Developmental Education, 1989-1991.

Co-Chair, Task Force for Restructuring the Mathematical Bridge, National Association for Developmental Education, 1991-1993.

Co-Chair, Southeast Tennessee Task Force for Improving Mathematics Education, 1990-1994.

Chair, Effectiveness Committee, National Association for Developmental Education, 1990-1994.

Chair and organizer of panel discussion on developmental mathematics, Annual NADE conference, Cincinnati, March 1989.

Reviewer, NCTM Mathematics Teacher, 1983 - 1986. 

<> 

University and Community Service

 

Mathematics tutor, sixth grader, 2005.

Faculty Senate Secretary, 2004-2006.

Mathematics tutor, Calvin Donaldson Elementary School, 2001.

Mathematics tutor, Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences, 1995-2002.

Member, Mathematics Advisory Committee of Hamilton County, 1999-2000.

Co-Chair, UTC General Education Implementation Committees, 1998-1999.

Chair, UTC General Education Committee, 1996-2000.

Chair of Faculty-Administrative Relations Committee, 1992-1993.

Chair of the University Admissions Committee, 1987 - 1989.

Chair of the Mathematics Placement/Testing Committee, 1984-1991, 1993-1995.

Member of numerous departmental and university committees.