A Digital “ProofSpace”, Facilitating a Flipped Classroom for Mathematical Proofs

Abstract

In many ways, the Introduction to Mathematical Proofs course is a first course in mathematical writing. Analogous courses are offered in math departments throughout the SUNY system. The skills and content a student learns in this course are recalled, reframed, revisited, and revitalized as they continue their mathematical journey. In addition, the material is useful to philosophy, linguistics, and computer science students. To support students’ retention of ideas and methods from this course, we have begun the process of flipping some sections of SUNY Geneseo’s Introduction to Mathematical Proofs using resources external to the SUNY system. We hope to develop our own video and text resources for the course in a way that incentivizes the switch to a flipped format. Further, these videos and associated exercises will become a part of OPEN SUNY through an online “ProofSpace.” Instructors throughout the SUNY system can take advantage of the videos for their Introduction to Mathematical Proofs courses, upper division math courses, or even non-math courses.