My name is Jessica Montevago and I am currently a candidate for a Master of Arts in Teaching at Saint Mary’s College of California. I recently received my multiple subjects teaching credential from Saint Mary’s College of California and presently seeking a full-time teaching position in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District. I received my undergraduate degree from California State University, Chico with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications, and a minor in Public Relations.
Photo Credit: Google Images
100 Years Ago: Joan Clarke is an article that describes the talented mathematician, Joan Clarke. Clarke was well-known for her contribution at Bletchley Park during World War II. She attended college at Cambridge University in 1936, and earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. Shortly after graduation, she began working at Bletchley in 1940.
After reading this article, I learned a lot about Clarke’s background in mathematics and her greatest achievements. During WWII, she worked as a codebreaker, which saved countless lives. Clarke was responsible for completing one of the toughest, high-pressured assignments at Bletchley– to decode the German messages (ciphers) from the German boats, which would result in immediate military action. Her mathematical talent and determination allowed her to successfully decode the messages, making her a ‘hero’ in the eyes of many.
Joan Clarke is yet another influential mathematician in our history that greatly contributed to our society during the 20th century. Students will be able to learn about her coding skills and how she successfully saved the lives of many during WWII.
Reference:
Erskine, R., Good, J., & Weiss, E. (2017). 100 Years Ago: Joan Clarke. Articles of AMS, 64(3), 252-255. doi:10.18411/a-2017-023
Engineer Girl is a website dedicated to bringing attention to female engineers, both historical figures as well as current ones. This website allows users to explore profiles of notable female engineers that made great contributions to the field of mathematics, dating back to the early 19th century. In addition, the website includes one-on-one interviews with current engineers that discuss their background in mathematics and their current contributions. This website is a great place for students to learn more about the role of an engineer.
From this website, I not only learned about historical female engineers, but contemporary ones as well that are currently making a difference in our society. From this article, I was able to read interviews with various female engineers and learn about their individual contributions to the field of mathematics. For example, Jennifer Lin, aspired to be a engineer growing up. Presently, she is a senior director of engineering at Google. It was interesting to learn about a contemporary engineer that is making contribution in society today.
This website contributes to answering my guiding questions as it allows students to explore well-known engineers throughout history, as well as current engineers that are making an impact in today’s society. This website is focuses on highlighting female engineers, which will be a motivational resource for young female students.
Reference:
EngineerGirl. (2001) National Academy of Engineering. Retrieved from https://www.engineergirl.org/Engineers/HistoricalEngineers/Grace_Hopper.aspx
Photo Credit: NPR.org
Mae Jemison was apart of the Space Shutter Endeavor in 1992, when she made history as the first African-American woman in space. After Making History in Space, Mae Jemison Works to Prime Future Scientists, highlights Jemison’s contribution to the field of science and math, and how she plans to encourage more women and minorities to enter those fields. According to Jemison, she believes that exposing students to opportunities where they are able to experiment will help them succeed in the sciences. “When you do hands-on science, you learn to — you learn about electricity by wiring a flashlight. And then it’s expectation. And that expectation is, we should expect our kids to succeed and to achieve. Children live up or down to our expectations. And so, I always call it the three E’s: experience, expectation and exposure,” states Jemison (NPR Staff, 2017, p.1).
This article was a fascinating read as it reflected Jemison’s diverse background in space exploration. I was surprised to learn about Jamison’s background and the many things she has experienced in her lifetime. According to the article, Jemsion grew up on the South Side of Chicago going to public schools. In regards to professional experience, she was a doctor, worked in Cambodian refugee camps, was an engineer and is well-versed in dance and the arts. Her unique background represents how a a career in math and science doesn’t require a cookie-cutter profile. Instead, her diverse background postitively contributed to her success in space exploration.
Another interesting fact I learned from reading this article, was how most students feel discouraged to pursue a field in mathematics or science is in college. According to the article, from a survey of women and minority members of the American Chemical Society, results indicated that 40% of them feel the most discouraged studying science in college by a college professor. As an educator, i took this statistic to heart, and solidified the notion that educators greatly impact students’ lives.
This article contributes to answering my guiding questions as it portrays a successful women in the field of mathematics. Students will be interested to learn about Jenson’s contributions to space exploration as well as her diverse background.
Reference:
NPR Staff. (2017). After Making History In Space, Mae Jemison Works To Prime Future Scientists. Retrieved 2017, from http://www.npr.org/2017/02/22/516695456/after-making-history-in-space-mae-jemison-works-to-prime-future-scientists
Photo Credit: Google Images
This portrait is a painting of famous mathematician, Emilie du Chatelet, which was painted by French painter Nicolas de Largilliere, in 1735. Largilliere uses many symbols and gestures in this painting to represent Chatelet’s scholarly background in the sciences. In the painting, it appears that Chatelet is looking upward, which symbolizes her interest in astronomy. Chatelet also appears to be holding a gold compass in her right hand, which is suppose to symbolize her work in measuring and bringing order to the natural world and universe. Lastly, her left hand is placed on top of a glob, which represents Newton’s theory of universal gravitation. The painting was sold in 2010 for $134,500 ( Weinstock, 2014).
After looking at this painting, I learned a lot about the French painter, Nicolas de Largillier, and why he painted a portrait of Chatelet. During the 18th century, it was often unheard of women as scholars, and Chatelet was notably one of the first female mathematicians. Chatelet was born in Paris, and always enjoyed math and science. As she grew older, she became very interested in Isaac Newton’s work. I learned that she is best known for her translation and commentary of Newton’s groundbreaking Pricipia, which is still used today.
Emilie du Chatelet is a famous mathematician during the 18th century. Her work is still remembered, making her an influential mathematician in history. Students will be excited to learn about her contributions to the field of mathematics– especially her work with Newton’s Pricipia.
Reference:
Weinstock, M. (2014). 15 Works of Art Depicting Women in Science. Retrieved from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/15-works-of-art-depicting-women-in-science/
Photo Credit: EngineerGirl
This article is about Dr. Grace Murray Hopper, a historical engineer during the 20th century in the United States of America. Hopper graduated from Vassar College in 1928, where she studied mathematics and physics. After graduating from Vassar, she continued her education at Yale where she earned her master’s degree and Ph.D. In 1946, Hopper joined the Eckert-Mauchly Computer Corporation as a Senior Mathematician. Following the Eckert-Mauchly Computer Corporation, Hopper worked at Cruft Laboratory as a programmer.
From reading this article, I learned about Hopper’s contributions to the field of engineering. While at Cruft Laboratory, she led the development of programming languages for the first computers. In addition, I learned that she was the recipient of the Naval Ordinance Development Award, for her success in programming the Mark I, Mark II and Mark III computers.
This article contributes to answering my guiding questions as it highlights the success of a woman engineer during the 20th century. From this article, students will learn about Hopper’s background in engineering and how she contributed to the field of mathematics.
Reference:
EngineerGirl Staff. (2015). Grace Hopper. EngineerGirl. Retrieved from https://www.engineergirl.org/Engineers/HistoricalEngineers/Grace_Hopper.aspx
Photo Credit: NASA
This photograph is of Jeanette Scissum, a mathematician and scientist at NASA during the 20th century. Scissum graduated from Alabama A&M University in 1964, with a master’s and bachelor’s degree in mathematics. She is well-known for the publication of a NASA report in 1967, Survey of Solar Cycle Prediction Models, which presented various techniques to improve forecasting of the sunspot cycle.
Prior to viewing this photograph, I had not heard of Jeanette A. Scissum nor her contributions to NASA. It was fascinating to learn about what she had accomplished while at NASA, including her work as a space scientist in the Space Environment Branch of Marshall’s Space Sciences Laboratory in the mid-1970’s. In addition, she led activities in Marshall’s Atmospheric, Magnetospheric, and Plasmas in Space project.
This artifact contributes to answering my guiding questions as it represents another influential woman in the field of mathematics. Students will be interested in learning about her contributions to NASA– specifically the article she wrote for the National Technical Association, Equal Employment Opportunity and the Supervisor- A Counselor’s View, which brought attention to discrimination in the workplace and how to avoid it through meaningful communication.
Reference:
Mohon, L. (2017). Jeanette A. Scissum, Scientist and Mathematician at NASA Marshall. Retrieved from https://www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall/history/jeanette-a-scissum.html
Photo credit: Google Images
Getting to the Roots of STEM Education, is an informative short clip on the foundation of the STEM program (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), which was founded by two sisters, Melissa and Lavanya Jawaharlal. In their speech, the Jawaharlal women discuss the purpose of the STEM program, which includes the three main benefits of the program: Basic foundation of how things work; dreamers and creators; the life skills (i.e. critical thinking, confidence, life-long love for learning, attitude, and design process.), I found this video very motivation, specifically for students who may not identify with math or science. As Jawaharlal women state, “There is an art to engineer. Why do we try and push our kids into one field or another.”
I learned a lot about the STEM program from this video, specifically the motivation behind the creation of the STEM program. Presently, we are living in a tech-driven environment, but the purpose of the STEM program is not to promote all children to pursue a career in coding or engineering. Instead, the goal is to relate STEM to all students to embrace curiosity instead of apprehension. Another component about STEM that I had not previously known was the idea of interdisciplinary education. STEM focuses on integrating the arts and technology.
I think that this is a very motivation video for students to watch to encourage them to embrace STEM education. The roots of the STEM program is to be curious and love learning instead of being apprehensive to the unknown. This video contributes to answering my guiding questions, as the founders of the STEM program were two women mathematicians.
To watch this video please visit: Getting to the Root of STEM Education
Reference:
Jawaharlal, L. & Jawaharlal, M. TEDtalks. (2017, May 19). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97-fT01RqAk
On November 16, 2015, The White House Office of the Press Secretary released the above statement announcing that Katherine Johnson, a NASA mathematician, would be receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom– the nation’s most prestigious award for American citizens. She received the award for her remarkable contribution to NASA, as her mathematical calculations contributed to the successful flight of John Glenn’ orbit around the moon. I was inspired reading the news letter from President Barack Obama, and how Katherine Johnson’s hard work and dedication to NASA was recognized on a national level.
From this artifact, I learned that Katherine Johnson received the President’s Medal of Freedom. Her work was viewed as inspirational and motivational that impacted millions of American’s lives. In addition, I learned more about Katherine Johnson’s work at NASA, including her calculations of the trajectories for Alan Shepard’s flight in 1961. Her work was truly an inspiration, and it was rewarding to read that an African American woman was recognized for her great national contributions and achievement.
Katherine Johnson will continue to be an iconic women mathematician, which will be remembered throughout history. Students will be able to learn more about the Presidential Medal of Freedom and how Johnson’s work contributed to her receiving the most honorable reward in the nations.
Photo Credit: NASA.gov
Reference:
Honoring NASA’s Katherine Johnson, STEM Pioneer. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2015/11/25/honoring-nasas-katherine-johnson-stem-pioneer
Photo credit: National Museum of Mathematics
The National Museum of Mathematics is located in Manhattan, New York. This museum has received multiple awards including: Communications Award for Public Outreach from the Joint Policy Board for Mathematics in 2016; the Most Fascinating Museum in New York State worth traveling from Trip Advisor in 2015; Best Museum for Kids by New York Magazine in 2013; and the MUSE Award for Education Outreach (bronze) from the American Alliance of Museums in 2013. This award-winning museum has many museums that are engaging and innovative for all ages. A few of the exhibits include: The Polypaint Pattern Pants, Seeing Math, Tracks of Galileo, and the Dynamic Wall.
It was very exciting to learn about the National Museum of Mathematics, as I had not previously known about it. A few of the exhibits I found the most fascinating are the Dynamic Wall and the Pattern Pants. The Pattern Pants exhibit is an exhibit that allows visitors to dress themselves in symmetrical patterns. The Dynamic Wall is a computer-based exhibit that consists of a kinetic showcase that displays a wide variety of wave phenomena, combinatorial algorithms, and more.
My guiding questions are focused on influential women in mathematics. I found this exhibit to be a great addition to my content resources as it is a great place for individuals of all ages to explore mathematics in a dynamic and innovative way.
Please visit the National Museum of Mathematics website for more information!
Reference:
National Museum of Mathematics. (2009.). Manhattan, New York. Retrieved from http://momath.org
Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front is a national historical park located in Richmond, California. The park’s location is the original ship port during WWII. Other exhibits at this museum one can visit include: The Oil House Visitor Center, the historic Ford Assembly, and the Maritime Childcare Center. I visited the Rosie the Riveter Home Front exhibit on July 11th and I was very inspired learning about the home front efforts across the United States during World War II.
From this exhibit, I learned about the many contributions women made during WWII, as most of the men were working in the military and no longer able to fulfill the job responsibilities at home. Women played an integral role in America’s industrialization, and had many employment opportunities during the war which included: Draftsmen, nurses, clerks and more. Women who were draftsmen worked on creating plans for special situations for hundreds of ships used during the war (see image below).
Jessica Montevago's Content Resources 