Quantitative Reasoning (QR), as defined by the Association of American Colleges and Universities is:
a "habit of mind," competency and comfort in working with numerical data. Individuals with strong QR skills possess the ability to reason and solve quantitative problems from a wide variety of authentic contexts and everyday life situations. They understand and can create sophisticated arguments supported by quantitative evidence, and they can clearly communicate those arguments in a variety of formats (using words, tables, graphs, mathematical equations, etc., as appropriate).
Here are a few ways that the QSC can assist you with your courses:
- Sample Statement to add to your course syllabus.
- Email your syllabus and/or assignments to us so that we can better support your students!
- Schedule a brief class visit so that we may introduce our services to your students.
- Schedule a meeting with the director (Erin Hill) to discuss ways to integrate quantitative reasoning into your course and/or to collaborate in the development of classroom activities! A few examples:
- How to Graph: effective visualization of data
- Unpacking a Scientific Article - collaboration with the Writing Center Director (Karen Rosenberg)
- Viewing and Discussion of Flatland
- Excel Workshop(s)
Other Resources
- The National Numeracy Network an organization dedicated to increasing quantitative literacy for all citizens.
- SIGMAA QL A special interest group of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) focused on QL.
- Quantitative Writing (on the NNN website) Information on how to integrate quantitative writing across disciplines.
Assignment Examples:
Understanding exponential growth in the context of population models
Writing about numbers we should know
Comparing journalistic reports to primary sources of research
- Radical Math a resource for educators interested in integrating issues of social and economic justice into their math classes and curriculum. Also a resource for educators wanting to integrate QL into their courses dealing with issues of social and economic justice!
- Mathematics and Democracy A book (available electronically) prepared by the National Council on Education and the Disciplines. Attempts to define quantitative literacy (QL) and argues for the need for QL.