Groups Unlimited   -  About Us

 
 

Photo by Bronwyn Worrell

  


In the fall of 2003, I was extremely fortunate to have two very gifted students in a calculus class, Doug Anewalt and Paul Lee, who had a deep interest in both mathematics and computer science. I had integrated various exercises with Exploring Small Groups (ESG) into my textbook, An Introduction to Algebraic Structures. Since ESG did not interface with the new Windows environment, I thought I should see what these two talented students could do to enhance the learning of group theory.

Even though they were only freshmen at the time and didn't even know what a group was, they courageously agreed to work with me on this project. I told them it had to be user-friendly so that no one would have to take a workshop to learn how to use it, and visually appealing and colorful, since I thought the color might stimulate those students who have trouble seeing the inherent beauty of group theory. When you review the software, you will see what a marvelous job Doug and Paul have done in accomplishing these goals.

 

 

  

This summer we were very fortunate to have Wes Barnes join our team. Wes is a senior math major and a scholar in the Center for Business Preparation (CBP) at Hanover. Wes was awarded a CBP internship to help us develop a business plan so that we could offer GU to students at a very low price and continue adding new features to the program. We felt that students might do more exploratory work with GU if they could buy it at a reasonable price and use it on their laptops.

Photo by Bronwyn Worrell

The first version of the program is now ready for distribution. We hope you like it.

 




Talks Presented on Groups Unlimited

  • Indiana MAA Spring Meeting, University of Indianapolis, March 23, 2007
  • Kentucky MAA Spring Meeting, Northern Kentucky University, March 31, 2007
  • MathFest, San Jose, CA, August 4, 2007

                                To schedule a talk:  rodgers@GroupsUnlimited.net

Bios

Nancy Rodgers is a professor of mathematics at Hanover College.  Her book, Learning to Reason, was published by John Wiley & Sons in 2000. The game space she designed at learningtoreason.com received a Merit Award from the Society for Technical Communications. She is currently completing textbooks on Abstract Algebra and Geometry. She received her Ph.D. in 1968 from the University of Kentucky under the direction of John Mack. Her two papers, Generalizations of Realcompact Space and Mappings and Realcompact Spaces, have been cited over 60 times in scientific journals.  She taught at Kent State University from 1968-1978, then moved to New York and worked for Crosfield Composition Systems, an international newspaper software company. Her on-site experience included the LA Daily News, Toronto Sun, Montreal Gazette, two years in Sweden at Dagens Nyheter, and a year in England at London Daily News, London Daily Mirror, and newspapers in Northampton, Manchester, Glasgow, and Yorkshire. She recently co-produced the educational documentary, William Blake: Inspiration and Vision, which won an Aegis Award. She is currently co-producing a documentary on Walt Whitman and a video poetry series, Words on the Wind, with Jack Ramey.

Paul Lee is a first year graduate student in computer science at the University of Virginia. He graduated from Hanover College in 2007 with a double major in mathematics and computer science, and a minor in physics. He received the Distinguished Award in Computer Science and Yarnelle Mathematics Prize. As chair of the Association of Computing Machinery (ACM) student chapter, Paul organized various campus events to get more students interested in computer science. He started the Math Club at Hanover and served as its first president.  He also was a member of the Hanover Martial Arts Club, Anime Club, BASIC, Concert Band, Chamber Orchestra, and Mortarboard. 

Doug Anewalt is a first year graduate student at the University of Kentucky.  He is working towards a Ph.D. in mathematics and hopes to become a college professor.  In the spring of 2007 he graduated summa cum laude from Hanover College with a double major in mathematics and computer science. His awards include the Yarnelle Mathematics Prize, Morse Mathematical Award, Distinguished Award in Computer Science, and Alpha Lambda Delta Award.  He was a member of the varsity tennis team for four years and earned all-conference honors the past three years.  He was actively involved in intramural volleyball, softball, and basketball, and was the defending floor hockey champion for two years. 

Wes Barnes is a senior math major at Hanover College and a scholar in the Center for Business Preparation. He is involved in a number of different activities on campus. Currently, he is president of the Math Club and treasurer of his fraternity, Phi Gamma Delta. He also plays varsity football for Hanover. Wes plans to go to graduate school and later pursue a career in business.

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Ladnor Geissinger, professor of mathematics at the University of North Carolina, for developing his innovative program, Exploring Small Groups (ESG), in 1989 which was the inspiration for our program.

We would like to thank Ellen J. Maycock, Associate Executive Director of the American Mathematical Society, for her book, Laboratory Experiences in Group Theory, MAA, 1996, which introduced us to the pedagogical benefits of using ESG in an abstract algebra class.   

We would like to thank Edward Keppelmann, professor of mathematics at the University of Nevada, for giving us permission to use tables from his software program, Finite Group Behavior, in the GU Group Library.

We would like to thank the Faculty Development Committee at Hanover College for their generous support of the development of this program.

<< Previous • Next >>