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Professor, Mathematics
Chair of the Department of Natural Sciences and Engineering 

Pictured is Matthew Pascal. Photo by Randall Coleman.Contact Information

Education

  • Bachelor of Science, Mathematics with a minor in physics, Duquesne University
  • Master of Science, Mathematics, University of Pittsburgh
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Mathematics Education, American University

Courses Taught

  • College Algebra
  • Statistics
  • Differential Equations

Background

Matthew Pascal, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Natural Sciences and Engineering, has an extensive background in teaching mathematics. Prior to joining Point Park University, he taught mathematics full time at West Virginia University, Towson University, American University and Northern Virginia Community College. Before that, Pascal was a teaching assistant at the University of Pittsburgh and an adjunct faculty member at Montgomery College, Maryland College of Art and Design, and Anne Arundel Community College.

Curriculum Vitae

Research Interests

  • Education Legislation (Mathematics)
  • Mathematics Education
  • Psychology of Mathematics Education
  • Assessment

Selected Publications

  • "Commentary on Legislation: A Mathematical Perspective," NOTICES of the American Mathematical Society, Jan. 2011.
  • "The Killer Problem" Proceedings of the thirty-second Annual Conference of the North American Chapter of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education, Oct. 2010.
  • "Trigonometry: A Course Manual," Kendall-Hunt, 2009.
  • "The Dreaded 'Work' Problems Revisited: Connections from Basic Fractions to Calculus," Mathematics Teacher, 2008.
  • "The Effects of Spike Frequency Adaptation and Negative Feedback on the Synchronization of Neural Oscillators," Neural Computation, 2001.
  • "Learning Outcomes Assessment: Stimulating Faculty Involvement Rather than Dismay," Supporting Assessment in Undergraduate Mathematics, Mathematics Association of America, 2005.

Selected Presentations

  • "The Sea Island Problem," West Virginia University Mathematics Symposium, Morgantown, W.Va., Nov. 2010.
  • "The Killer Problem," The 32nd annual meeting of the North American Chapter of The International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education, Columbus, Ohio, Oct. 2010.
  • "The Game of EQUATIONS," West Virginia University Mathematics Symposium, Morgantown, W.Va., Nov. 2007.
  • "A Geometric Series Approach to the Work Problem," West Virginia University Mathematics Symposium, Morgantown, W.Va., Oct. 2006 and 2008.
  • "A Multi-Stage Assessment of No Child Left Behind in the Middle School Mathematics Classroom," MAA Section Meeting, Loyola College, Baltimore, Md., April 2006.
  • "Ancient Navigation and Surveying," Sonya Kovalevsky Day, American University, Washington, D.C., March 2004.

Professional Memberships

  • National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
  • Mathematical Association of America

In the News

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