Charlene Morrow

Co-Director, SummerMath & Lecturer in Psychology and Education

Degrees

  • A.B., Miami University
  • M.A., Florida State University
  • Ph.D., Florida State University

Courses Taught

  • Introductory Psychology
  • Introduction to Social Psychology
  • Psychology of Women
  • Psychology of Women: Focus on Women in Mathematics and Science
  • Learning and Reflecting on Mathematics in a Psychological and Social Context
  • Explorations in Algebra

Interests

Currently I am working on developing and using constructivist models of learning and teaching in mathematics, in collaboration with my husband, Jim Morrow (Mathematics Department). We focus on understanding how to best structure educational experiences for females, particularly in mathematics. In addition to teaching undergraduate courses we co-direct SummerMath, and SEARCH, both four-week programs for young women in high school to develop conceptual understanding in mathematics and to increase confidence and interest in pursuing mathematics beyond high school. Undergraduates are hired as teaching assistants and can earn internship credit for their work. We have consulted with public schools, for instance the Magnet Middle School in Holyoke where we designed and initiated a new program for teaching mathematics, and we have given many workshops and talks to educators across the country. In 1993, with a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF), we designed a five day workshop for educators to learn more about teaching mathematics to young women. In 2001, funded by a grant from NSF, we integrated eight deaf students into the SummerMath program. In 2004, we launched the SEARCH program for well-prepared high school girls who want to explore advanced mathematics.

Recent Publications

Morrow, C. (2002) Using Graphs to Color Origami Polyhedra. In T. Hull (Ed.). Origami3: Third International Meeting of Origami, Science, Mathematics, and Education. London: A.K. Peters. 269-282.

Morrow, C. (1999) Ensuring That All Children Are Powerful Technology Users. Mathematics Education Dialogues. Reston, VA: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

Morrow, C. (1999) Unit Origami and Origami Quilts: A Confluence of Art, Architecture, and Mathematics. Proceedings of the International Society for Art, Mathematics, and Architecture, San Sebastian, Spain.

Morrow, C. & Perl, T. (eds.) (1998) Women of Mathematics: A Biographical Dictionary. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.

Morrow, C. (1996) Women and Mathematics: Avenues of Connection. Focus on Learning Problems in Mathematics, 18(1, 2, 3), 4-18.

News Links

Math Quest: Charlene Morrow Returns to the Classroom

Receives NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Grant