University Calendar

The Visiting Scholar Series Presents:

Dr. David Kung, (he, him, his)
Professor of Mathematics
St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Director, MAA Project NExT

Teaching STEM / Teaching Students

All STEM instructors do the same thing: they teach science to students. But is their focus on the science, or on the students? Pedagogical differences reflect teachers' different values - and lead to different outcomes. Decades of research sheds light on how the structure of STEM classes - from passive lectures to collaborative group learning to inquiry-based methods - affects both how much students learn and which students are successful. This interactive session will explore these issues, including how and why we must rise to the challenge of moving away from passive lectures, both on an individual and an institutional level.

Speaker Bio:

Dave Kung’s varied interests are a perfect match for a liberal arts institution like St. Mary’s College of Maryland. In addition to teaching mathematics, using his degrees from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, he plays violin with students and in the local community orchestra, runs with the cross country team, and marches alongside campus activists. He has authored a variety of articles on topics in harmonic analysis and mathematics education, and is the recipient of numerous awards including the 2006 Teaching Award and the 2017 Service Award from the MD/VA/DC section of the MAA. His passion for leveling the playing field for women and minorities in STEM fields has led to the creation of an Emerging Scholars Program, an REU, and a math circle. Two Great Courses lecture series, on math/music and mind-bending paradoxes, have engaged audiences around the world. He serves as director of MAA Project NExT, a professional development program for new faculty in the mathematical sciences.