Contribution to Book
Connecting mathematics and biology in the classroom: exploring the hero's journey through ecological relationships
Proceedings of the Sixth Symposium on B.E.E.R.
(2015)
Abstract
The combined use of mathematics and biology in research is currently addressing some of the
most important questions in medicine, engineering and ecology. However, there exists a fun-
damental gap in biology and mathematics education at the undergraduate level. Here, biology
students often fail to view mathematics as an important tool in biology, while mathematics stu-
dents often nd it challenging to connect the material to biological frameworks. As such, novel
approaches are required in order to bridge this fundamental gap in undergraduate education.
In this manuscript, we propose an educational framework suitable for an ordinary differential
equations class. In our framework, we connect mathematics and ecological concepts using the
lore of Magic: The Gathering, which serves as a literary medium to bridge the two concepts.
In our educational framework, we develop a mathematical model of the predator-prey style re-
lationship between humans and monsters that is connected to the lore, the time period setting,
and the card deck related to the Magic: The Gathering card game. Students can then math-
ematically explore strategies introduced in the card game for humans to survive the monsters.
We then connect these strategies to concepts observed in ecological and evolutionary dynamics.
Overall, we have found similar approaches to our educational framework to be quite successful as
evidenced by the ability of both mathematics and biology students to develop research projects,
present their research at conferences, and publish their findings in peer-reviewed manuscripts.
Disciplines
Publication Date
2015
Publisher
McGraw-Hill
ISBN
1308452098
Citation Information
Robert P. Smith and Evan C Haskell. "Connecting mathematics and biology in the classroom: exploring the hero's journey through ecological relationships" Proceedings of the Sixth Symposium on B.E.E.R. (2015) p. 122 - 135 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/evan-haskell/99/