Episode 100: Maggie MacPhee, Grades 7-12 Math Teacher & Educator

07/27/21 • 45 min

Maggie MacPhee is passionate about math - not just learning and teaching it, but also examining it through a social justice lens and changing the narrative around its history. She joins Best of the WWEST producer Vanessa to get nerdy about math and board games, but also to talk about how she as a busy math teacher early in her career deals with stress, what books she’s reading, and what her favourite part of teaching math is, punctuated with lots of laughter.

Maggie MacPhee is a grade 7-12 mathematics teacher in Nova Scotia. Maggie studied Mathematics at Mount Allison University before completing her Education degree at St Francis Xavier. Maggie’s favourite math topics are graph theory, board games, and social justice through mathematics.

For full shownotes, transcription, and land acknowledgement visit http://i.sfu.ca/OcXpdQ

Relevant Links:

Building Thinking Classrooms
The Crest of the Peacock: Non-European Roots of Mathematics (book)
High School Mathematics Lessons to Explore, Understand, and Respond to Social Injustice (book)
Infinite Powers: How Calculus Reveals the Secrets of the Universe (book)
Maggie on Twitter
Minister's Island
Mount Allison University
Mount Saint Vincent University
Saint Francis Xavier University
Settlers of Catan (board game)

Hosted by: Vanessa Hennessey Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Hennessey

For full shownotes, transcription, and land acknowledgement visit http://i.sfu.ca/OcXpdQ

Relevant Links:

Building Thinking Classrooms
The Crest of the Peacock: Non-European Roots of Mathematics (book)
High School Mathematics Lessons to Explore, Understand, and Respond to Social Injustice (book)
Infinite Powers: How Calculus Reveals the Secrets of the Universe (book)
Maggie on Twitter
Minister's Island
Mount Allison University
Mount Saint Vincent University
Saint Francis Xavier University
Settlers of Catan (board game)

Hosted by: Vanessa Hennessey Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Hennessey

Previous Episode

Episode 99: Cassy Weber, CEO, MindFuel

Cassy Weber and MindFuel, the organization she runs as CEO, are very busy - from studying when girls are losing interest in STEM in their schooling journey, to figuring out how to deliver quality programming to communities with limited technology, to consulting on curriculum development initiatives and more. Cassy tells us all about these projects in this episode, and lets us in on some of her personal and professional life as a busy CEO of a nonprofit organization that is truly making a positive impact.

Cassy Weber is the CEO of MindFuel. Cassy lives and breathes innovation, progress and inclusion. After a successful tenure in the for-profit industry, working with an array of companies over a 20-year period from Fortune 500s to start ups in order to develop strategic and operational plans, Cassy transitioned to the nonprofit industry to lead MindFuel's sustainability initiative in 2012.

For full shownotes, transcription, and land acknowledgement visit http://i.sfu.ca/dSnCKM

Relevant Links:

Hosted by: Vanessa Hennessey Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Hennessey

Next Episode

Episode 101: Dr. Kimberly Arcand, Visualization Scientist, Chandra X-Ray Observatory, NASA

Have you ever held an exploded star in your hand? How about a 3D printed one? Doing precisely that launched Dr. Kimberly Arcand down her windy “Candyland” path to where she is today as a data visualizer and science communicator at NASA’s Chandra X-Ray Observatory. In this episode, you’ll also hear about her passion for creating materials that are accessible for all, how important coding is for students and professionals in STEM, and how failing a class can teach you a ton about yourself.

Dr. Kimberly Arcand is a leading expert in astronomy visualization and has been a pioneer in 3D imaging, printing, and extended reality applications with astrophysics data. Kim began her career in molecular biology and public health before moving to NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory in 1998. Her current projects include sonification of spatial data, screen-based holograms and other intersections of emerging technology and astrophysics. She has co-written seven non-fiction science books including her first two science-related children’s books that came out last year.

For full shownotes, transcription, and land acknowledgement visit http://i.sfu.ca/eKlXft

Relevant Links: