Information on James R. Olsen |
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Beginning Fall 2020, I became Assistant Chair for the Department of Mathematics and Philosophy |
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Professional Information
I have been teaching at Western Illinois University since the Fall of 1994. After graduation from Doane College (1979) I taught high school mathematics for ten years. I was also the head boys basketball coach for nine years at Centura HS in Cairo, NE. I hold two Master's degrees (one in Mathematics Education from University of Nebraska-Kearney, and one in Mathematics from Colorado State University). My PhD (Educational Mathematics) is from the University of Northern Colorado (1994). I am a professor in the Department of Mathematics and Philosophy at Western Illinois University. I teach mathematics courses and teaching methods courses for prospective and practicing teachers. My research interests are mental math, student understanding of the function concept, multiplicative reasoning (including proportional reasoning and rates), educational uses of technology, logic for middle school, student understanding of fractions, decimals, and percents, problem solving; and teaching mathematical and higher-order reasoning while seeing the beauty of mathematics. Recent awards: Outstanding Faculty Award for Teaching with Technology from the College of Arts and Sciences, Western Illinois University, April 2019; Award for Academic Excellence in Enhancing Learning with Technology from the Provost, Western Illinois University, October 2019.
Personal Information
I consider myself a Christian, family member, teacher, athlete, and scholar. I believe that children and students, Pre-K through graduate school, are important (see Children Are ABC's) and represent our future. I enjoy living in Macomb (past weather: Wunder or NOAA) and being part of the Wesley UMC family. I vacation at Lake Okoboji (water levels, okobojipics, okobojiadmin) in Iowa. Information about my wonderful family is below. In summer 2007 I went to Germany with my family. We went to Berlin. It was a moving experience for me to be there with the Berlin Wall down and able to walk under the Brandenberg Gate. I'm involved with Academic Year in America, a foreign exchange agency. My favorite book is The Story of the Other Wise Man. More links of interest: Happiness Coin, Three Things, Sung Graces. More of my off-campus interests are listed below. names form; men's ministry form; teachers form; Preachers form; new WIU grad form responses; Stories Database form.
Committees and Responsibilities for 2021-2022
University:
- Search Committee for the Field Experience Supervisor
- Search Committee for COEHS Assistant Dean
- SEDG - Secondary Education Discussion Group (meets infrequently)
Department:
- Assistant Chair for the Department of Mathematics and Philosophy
- Lower Division Curriculum Committee Chair
- Mathematics Education Committee
- Math Teachers Conference Website Coordinator
- High School Relations Executive Committee
Off Campus:
- Wesley Church Communications Committee Chair
- Wesley Church Learn-Grow-Serve committee member
- Lay Speaker - UMC
- ISMAA board member (through 2022) Two-Year College Committee (through 2022)
- Special Nominating Committee for the Section Representative (ISMAA)
- Webmaster for bombersports.org
Committees and Responsibilities for 2020-2021
University:
- SEDG - Secondary Education Discussion Group (meets infrequently)
- CIT - Council for Instructional Technology
Department:
- Assistant Chair for the Department of Mathematics and Philosophy
- Lower Division Curriculum Committee Chair
- Mathematics Education Committee
- Math Teachers Conference Website Coordinator
- High School Relations Executive Committee
- 099/100 Revisions Committee
Off Campus:
- Wesley Church Communications Committee Chair
- Wesley Church Learn-Grow-Serve committee member
- Lay Speaker - UMC
- ISMAA board member (through 2022) Two-Year College Committee (through 2022)
- Webmaster for bombersports.org
Committees and Responsibilities for 2019-2020
University:
- SEDG - Secondary Education Discussion Group (meets infrequently)
- CIT - Council for Instructional Technology
Department:
- Mathematics Education Committee
- Math Teachers Conference Website Coordinator
- Mathematics Resource Office (MRO) Coordinator
- High School Relations Executive Committee
- Mathematics and Philosophy Department Chairperson Search Committee
- 099/100 Revisions Committee
Off Campus:
- Wesley Church Communications Committee Chair
- Wesley Church Learn-Grow-Serve Committee Chair
- Lay Speaker - UMC
- ISMAA board member (through 2022)
- Webmaster for bombersports.org
Committees and Responsibilities for 2018-2019
University:
- SEDG - Secondary Education Discussion Group (meets infrequently)
- Teacher Education Test Success Committee - Chair
Department:
- Mathematics Education Committee
- Math Teachers Conference Website Coordinator
- Mathematics Resource Office (MRO) Coordinator
- High School Relations Executive Committee
Off Campus:
- Wesley Church Communications Committee Chair
- Wesley Church Learn-Grow-Serve Committee Chair
- Lay Speaker - UMC
- Webmaster for bombersports.org
Committees and Responsibilities for 2017-2018
University:
- SEDG - Secondary Education Discussion Group (meets infrequently)
- CIT - Council for Instructional Technology (A&S Rep) '17-'18 (excused), '18-'19, '19-'20.
- CAEP Steering Committee
- Teacher Education Test Success Committee
Department:
- Mathematics Education Committee
- Math Teachers Conference Paperwork & Website Coordinator
- Mathematics Resource Office (MRO) Tutor and Scheduling Coordinator
- High School Relations Executive Committee
Off Campus:
- Wesley Church Communications Committee Chair
- Wesley Church Learn-Grow-Serve Committee Chair
- Webmaster for bombersports.org
Committees and Responsibilities for 2016-2017
University:
- SEDG - Secondary Education Discussion Group (meets infrequently)
- CAEP Steering Committee
Department:
- Mathematics Education Committee
- Department Curriculum Committee (Math Educ. Rep)
- Math Teachers Conference Paperwork & Website Coordinator
- Mathematics Resource Office (MRO) Tutor, Student Assistants, and Scheduling Coordinator
- High School Relations Executive Committee
Off Campus:
- ISMAA Teacher Education Committee Chairman
- Wesley Church Communications Committee Chair
- Wesley Church Learn-Grow-Serve Committee Chair
