THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 31, 1995 TAG: 9503290141
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JENNIFER C. O'DONNELL, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
If you walked into one of Dan Mulligan's math classes, you might think you were in a science laboratory or a physics lecture.
That's because Mulligan isn't a typical math teacher.
``If you just teach math theory, the students won't be able to apply that to real life,'' said Mulligan. ``You have to show them, or let them discover, that they'll use math every day.''
That's why some of Mulligan's teaching methods include math labs, field trips and the use of a high-tech device called a Calculator Based Laboratory or ``CBL,'' for short.
Mulligan's progressive teaching methods and his enthusiasm for his craft recently earned him the title of ``Outstanding Secondary Math Teacher'' from the Virginia Council of Teachers.
The statewide recognition came relatively quickly for Mulligan. After all, he's only been a resident of Virginia since 1992, when he accepted a position on the staff of Indian River High School. Last fall, after a two-year stint with Indian River, he joined the faculty of Great Bridge High School.
But Mulligan isn't new to the teaching profession. He taught for 20 years in Brooklyn, N.Y., his hometown, and although he was fully vested in his pension plan, he knew he wasn't ready to abandon teaching.
``I'm a teacher. That's who I am,'' said Mulligan. ``I had no intention of leaving my profession.''
So, Mulligan packed his bags and moved to Virginia to start the second phase of his career.
``Virginia had everything I wanted. Access to the water, a change of seasons but warmer weather than what I was used to,'' said Mulligan.
And once Mulligan arrived, he started modernizing some of the city's math teaching methods. Before leaving New York, Mulligan was chosen, along with 24 other math teachers across the country, to try out a new calculator, the CBL, which not only computes equations but allows students to graph on a monitor. Mulligan and the other teachers approved the device, so when he moved to Virginia, he persuaded the School Board to purchase more than 2,000 of them for use in the classrooms.
``It's so important to keep these kids up-to-date with technology. They're going to have to know this stuff when they're out there in the real world.''
But changing long-lasting teaching methods is never easy, added Mulligan. ``A lot of people think technology makes things simpler for the student, but what it does is enable the student to go one step further and really analyze the process.''
Of course, Mulligan believes his other tools of the trade are just as helpful when teaching students complex math problems. In one of his math labs, Mulligan took his students, who were studying fractions at the time, to the home-economics department. There they had to double and half recipes using the fractions. ``Once they visualized what they needed to do, it was easier for them,'' said Mulligan.
And Mulligan isn't the only math teacher in the city that uses labs to make a point. Mulligan's labs have been so popular that the city incorporated 30 of them into the math curriculum. Other school systems have asked for information about the labs as well.
``Students should be active, not passive, learners,'' said Mulligan. ``That's why the labs work so well.''
Although he admits the recognition by the council is a thrill, Mulligan doesn't want to take complete credit for the achievement. ``I'm a better teacher since I came here,'' said Mulligan. ``The faculty, the students and the school district have all helped me do what I do better.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by STEVE EARLEY
Dan Mulligan's progressive teaching methods earned him the title of
``Outstanding Secondary Math Teacher.''
by CNB