SFU Research Masterclass Series: "How I Came to ___ Maths"

Abstract

About the Interviewee: Dr. Rina Zazkis is a Professor in the Faculty of Education and an associate member in the Department of Mathematics at Simon Fraser University. Dr. Zazkis completed her undergraduate and master's degrees at the University of Haifa. She received her Ph.D. in Mathematics Education from the Technion–Israel Institute of Technology. Before coming to SFU in 1991, Dr. Zazkis held a faculty position at Northern Illinois University.

Dr. Zazkis' research is in the area of Undergraduate Mathematics Education, with a general focus on mathematical content knowledge of preservice teachers and the ways in which this knowledge is acquired and modified. Teaching, learning and understanding elementary number theory has been a specific focus of her studies.

Dr. Zazkis is affiliated with the Ph.D. Program in Mathematics Education and the M.Sc. program in Secondary Mathematics Education, which is a unique collaboration between Faculty of Education and Department of Mathematics.

Dr. Zazkis is the author or a coauthor of six books and over 130 publications that include book chapters and articles in refereed journals and conference proceedings.

About the Interviewer: Justin Gray is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mathematics. He completed his undergraduate and master's degrees at Simon Fraser University. Justin joined the Department of Mathematics as a Lecturer in 2002. He has a long standing interest in mathematics education including teaching large math classes, use of technology in teaching mathematics, and curriculum development.

Justin Gray is a member of the B.C. Powerlifting Association.