Janice Sklensky
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About
Main Interests
Exploring geometry. Learning connections between math and other fields, especially art, and having “that is so cool!” moments. Learning how people learn. Volunteering as a tutor. Talking about things mathematical and not-mathematical with my husband. Reading (mostly mysteries), gardening, exercising.
Degrees
Ph.D., M.S., Northwestern University
A.B., University of California, Berkeley
Research Interests
For my dissertation, I studied Commutative Ring Theory and Homological Algebra. Now, I’m spending time learning non-Euclidean geometry, and exploring the connections between math and art, as I mentioned earlier.
Teaching Interests
Teaching my students how to read, learn, and do mathematics. I try to have them actually do some math during nearly every class meeting, rather than simply listening to me lecturing the whole time. I also often have the students solve relatively realistic, open-ended problems and describe their solutions in everyday language.
Student Projects
In Fall 2018, I am advising a student’s Honors Thesis, on the connection between gerrymandering and math: not at all in my area, but I hope to learn it with them.
I assign projects in many of my classes. In Math and Art, the students choose between a number of projects: some involve creating art using mathematical concepts, others involve analyzing existing art mathematically, and a few involve writing reaction papers to articles or books. In Euclidean and Non-Euclidean Geometry, students have individual extended projects working through a geometric topic, writing a paper and presenting on it at the end of the term. In Abstract Algebra, the students have individual semester-long projects to help make the material more concrete.