Beyond Textbooks: How Prof. Green and Ph.D. Student Menzel Enhance Quantitative Learning
The Fall 2024 edition of Carolina Arts & Sciences magazine highlighted the collaboration between Prof. Linda Green and Ph.D. student Connor Menzel from the Mathematics Department. Their joint efforts have enriched the course “Reasoning with Data: Navigating a Quantitative World,” allowing students to move beyond textbook problems and apply quantitative analysis to real-world scenarios.
Prof. Green, who helped develop the course, engaged students with data analysis scenarios drawn from contemporary issues such as finance, gerrymandering, and the COVID-19 pandemic. This real-world focus aims to equip students with the analytical skills necessary to thrive in today’s data-driven landscape. She emphasizes the importance of transcending textbook problems to expose students to situations where not all the information is readily available. The course encourages students to think critically and analyze data effectively.
The partnership between Green and Menzel, fostered through the Graduate Research Consultant program, has made the course even more dynamic. For example, one of the final project options created by Menzel challenges students to analyze computer code to determine the most likely creator of Bitcoin. Such innovative projects were made possible by the addition of a graduate research consultant, enriching the learning experience for all students involved.
For more insights and details about this inspiring collaboration and the course, check out the full article in the latest edition of Carolina Arts & Sciences magazine.