Math Circles in North Bay – the Northern Experience
Laura J. Huntington
Department of Computer Science and Mathematics, Nipissing University, 100 College Drive, Box 5002, North Bay, Ontario P1B 8L7, Canada.
Tzvetalin S. Vassilev *
Department of Computer Science and Mathematics, Nipissing University, 100 College Drive, Box 5002, North Bay, Ontario P1B 8L7, Canada.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Identifying mathematically talented children and working with them in various forms to help them achieve their full potential has been a priority in many countries around the world in the last 50 years [1-3]. In the last 20 years, special attention has been paid to this in North America as well [4-6]. One of the most common forms is the so-called Mathematical Circles. In recent years, a large number of universities have taken leadership in organizing Mathematical Circles in their respective cities and communities. Many of these activities are related to mathematical Olympiads or other competitions [7,8]. They also help prepare children for the transition into college/university at an advanced level. There are several forums for people involved in this activity, including the Special Interest Group on Mathematical Circles of the Mathematical Association of America [9-11]. In this paper, we describe the experience of a group of faculty and students at Nipissing University in running the Math Circles in North Bay, Ontario.
Keywords: Mathematical circles, mathematical competitions, gifted children, mathematically talented children, Northern experience.