Workshop Speaker
Euclid and Beyond: Using Primary Sources in the Mathematics Classroom
The use of primary sources is a hallmark of classical, Christian education. However, in mathematics classes, the use of primary sources has lagged considerably, other than some usage of Euclid’s Elements. This workshop explores the usage of primary sources in mathematics classes. Attendees will gain a better understanding of the value of primary sources, learn various ways to incorporate primary sources into their instruction, and receive a starting list of possible works from which to choose primary sources that are appropriate for their math classes.
James Seidel is the academic dean at Cair Paravel Latin School in Topeka, KS. In addition to overseeing the curriculum, he currently teaches the junior- and senior-year mathematics classes. In his twenty-three years of teaching, he has taught all the traditional rhetoric-level mathematics classes and various courses in other disciplines. He is a self-confessed “knowledge nerd” who directs the school’s scholars bowl program. He enjoys coaching his daughter’s soccer team, playing games, and reading a good book, but his favorite hobby is spending time with his beautiful wife and four children. He holds a BS in meteorology from Iowa State and an MEd in curriculum and instruction from Dordt University.