Box Lunch session focuses on quantitative reasoning The On Teaching Box Lunch discussion series continues Wednesday, Oct. 31, with a session on “Quantitative Reasoning Across the Curriculum” from noon to 1 p.m. in the River Valley Room, Memorial Union. In the fall of 2008, UND will implement general education reform by putting the “Essential Studies” Program in place. One fresh component of the program is a Quantitative Reasoning (QR) goal. QR (also referred to as Quantitative Literacy, Numeracy and Mathematical Literacy) is commonly assumed to be synonymous with mathematics; however, it is not mathematics per se. In the context of QR, mathematics provides the foundational understanding of principles, concepts, processes and connections needed by everyone in their personal and professional life. The well-educated citizen applies QR skills to daily contexts: for instance, understanding the power of compound interest or the uses and abuses of percentages; using fundamental statistical analysis to gauge the accuracy of a statistical study; or applying the principles of logic and analysis to real world arguments. The QR overlay requirement is designed to engage students in the analysis and interpretation of data in a scientific or social context and therefore by intent and design, QR overlay courses will be offered in the fine arts and humanities, the social sciences, and the physical sciences. Come join this box lunch for discussion concerning QR and course ideas for the new goal. We will hear from Ryan Zerr (Mathematics), chair of the Senate General Education Requirements Committee, about what QR could look like across the curriculum, and from Pat O’Neill (Economics) about his model-project which developed a course for majors in his department into a model for the QR overlay. To register and reserve a free box lunch, call Jana Hollands at 777-4998 by noon Monday, Oct. 29. Please indicate if you require a vegetarian meal. -- Anne Kelsch, Director, Office of Instructional Development, anne.kelsch@und.nodak.edu, 777-4233