This group will have a different structure from the other groups. It will be based on a course on Knot Theory taught by Colin Adams as part of the Undergraduate Faculty Program. This is a course designed to teach college faculty the elements of knot theory in a ways that they could use with their students. Thus it is a college level course, but a particularly interesting and accessible one.

The teachers in the group will attend the course, along with the PCMI SSTP resource person Jim King, of the University of Washington. Then the working group will move to another room from 2-3 to discuss the points raised in the class, do problems, and eventually consider ways that the mathematics of the course might be adapted to a secondary math classroom.

A description of the course is on the PCMI website:

http://pcmi.ias.edu/2006/program_undergradfaculty.php

Adams, a professor at Williams College, is well-known as an excellent teacher. He has also written a very readable book called The Knot Book and another book of knot theory activities published by Key Curriculum Press. So the course should be well-taught at the level of an accessible college class.

This plan is quite different from the way that all the other Working Groups are organized. Working groups are in general more informal and planned to a great extend by the participants.

For some PCMI teachers, this Knot Theory course may be just what you are looking for -- really interesting math, an outstanding instructor, and discussion and problems. But this does mean that the subject matter is more prescribed and there will be homework! Some teachers may prefer the structure of the other groups -- or prefer to explore another part of geometry.

Working group roster
Weekly reports

Photos, Week 1

Project Abstracts