DIMACS SYMPOSIUM

This symposium took place on Thursday-Friday, 25-26 July 1996. All sessions will be held in the Computing Research and Education (CoRE) Building of the Busch Campus of Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey.

List of participants

The symposium explored the teaching of introductory logic and logical thinking, with a primary focus on the college level and a secondary focus on the high school level. The symposium was interdisciplinary, emphasizing and contrasting approaches used in mathematics, computer science, natural sciences, and engineering. A sharing of ideas, rather than consensus, on how to teach logic, is sought, so that all participants could gain an appreciation for the fundamental issues and ultimately would be better able to motivate the importance of logic and to convey the foundations of logical reasoning to students.

This WWW site contains the schedule (as of 6/27/96)

This WWW site also contains a list of papers scheduled to be discussed, as well as the papers themselves, in various formats (html, ascii, or postscript). Participants were expected to read these papers before coming to the symposium, so that the symposium could concentrate on discussing content rather than presenting content afresh.

Address questions concerning the papers listed below to gries@cs.cornell.edu .

Here is information about the DIMACS Federated Logic Conference.

Preliminary Schedule (as of 6/27/96).

Papers and panels

A list of papers discussed at the symposium is given below. They are available on the web in different formats; choose the form that suits you and your computer best. This page will be updated on a continuing basis as papers become available, so check it regularly. Remember to "reload" the file from your browser; otherwise, you may always reference a previous version. People may wish to update their papers after the workshop. We have given each paper an initial date of 27 July 1996, and we will update this date whenever a paper is updated. Note also that some members of the panel on logic in the CS curriculum have now supplied material.

• The ps (postscript) form is best if it is clear enough on your computer. You may be able to print it to get a good copy of the final paper.
• If the ps form is not suitable for you, try viewing the html form in your web browser. Actually, for many of the papers, the html form will be most suitable.
• As a last resort, grab the ascii form and print it.

• Panel on logic in the CS curriculum
  1. Introduction, by Chair Moshe Vardi (96.8.10 postscript)
  2. Slides from Moshe Vardi's presentation (96.8.10 postscript)
  3. Slides from Phokion Kolaitis's presentation (96.7.27 postscript)
  4. Slides from Kim Bruce's presentation (96.8.1 postscript)

1. P. Alexander. ECE, Cincinatti.
   Integrating formalism in software engineering. (96.7.24 html) (96.7.24 ascii)
2. V. Almstrum. CS, Texas at Austin.
   The propositional logic test: A tool for CS Education? (96.7.24 html) (96.7.24 ascii)
3. V. Almstrum. CS, Texas at Austin.
   Student difficulties with mathematical logic. (96.7.24 html) (96.7.24 ascii)
4. J. Barwise, K. Fisler & Eberle. Indiana University
   Teaching reasoning using heterogeneous logic. (96.7.24 html) (dvi)
5. M.C. Clarke. University of Natal, South Africa
   Comparison of techniques for introducing material implication. (96.7.24 html) (96.7.24 ascii)
6. H. van Ditmarsch. CS, Groningen U and Open Uni., the Netherlands
   The logic courses at the Open Univ. in the Netherlands. (96.7.24 html) (96.7.24 dvi)
7. E. Dubinsky. Math, Georgia State University, and O. Yiparaki, Agnes Scott College.
   Formal logic and mathematical thinking -predicate calculus. (96.7.24 html) (96.7.24 postscript)
8. V. Durand-Guerrier. UJF, Grenoble, France.
   Conditionals, necessity, and contingency in mathematics classes. (96.7.24 html)
9. M. Enright & T. Habick. Educational Testing Service.
   The GRE Anlytical Measure. (96.7.24 ascii)
10. S. Epp. De Paul University.
    A cognitive approach to teaching logic and proof. (96.7.24 html) (96.7.24 ascii)
11. T. Franzen. Swedish Institute of Computer Science.
    Teaching mathematics through formalism: a few caveats. (96.7.24 html) (96.7.24 ascii)
    Remarks by Piotr Rudnicki
12. P. Forcheri, P. Gentilini & M.T. Molfino. Consiglio Nazionale delle Richerce, Genova, Italy.
    An epistemological approach to the design of training courses on logic. (96.7.24 html) (96.7.24 postscript)
13. S. Grantham. Math & CS, Boise State.
    Greek knuckleballs and lucky charms. (96.7.24 html) (96.7.24 ascii) (96.7.24 postscript)
14. D. Gries. CS, Cornell.
    Formal versus semiformal proof in teaching predicate logic: a reaction to Grantham's "Greek knuckleballs and lucky charms". (96.8.26 postscript)
15. D. Gries & F.B. Schneider. CS, Cornell.
    Teaching math more effectively, through the design of calculational proofs. (96.7.24 postscript)
16. D. Gries & F.B. Schneider. CS, Cornell.
    Introduction to teaching logic as a tool. (96.7.24 html)
17. D. Gries. CS, Cornell.
    A calculational proof of Andrews's challenge. (96.8.26 postscript). (96.8.26 html). Andrews's challenge is one of the more difficult predicate-logic theorems that is used as a benchmark for mechanical theorem provers. We offer a fairly simple proof of it in the calculational style.
18. J. Henle & T. Tymoczko. Smith College.
    Teaching logic after Godel - & Tarksi & Turing & computers & ... (96.7.24 dvi) (96.7.24 ps) (96.7.24 tex source)
19. H.J. Hoover & P. Rudnicki. CS, Alberta.
    Teaching Freshman logic with MIZAR-MSE. (96.7.24 html) (96.7.24 postscript)
20. V. Liberatore. CS, Rutgers.
    Learning to prove: a taxonomy of objectives. (96.10.10 html) (96.10.10 ascii) (96.8 postscript)
21. J.J. Lu. CS, Bucknell.
    Constraint logic programming: a computational approach to teaching the semantics of logic. (96.7.24 html) (96.7.24 postscript)
22. S. Maurer. Math & Statistics, Swathmore.
    Teaching reasoning, broadly and narrowly. (96.7.24 html) (96.7.24 dvi) (96.7.24 ps)
23. M. McKeon. Central Connecticut State.
    A pedagogical approach to a foundation for the definition of validity in first-order logic. (96.7.24 html) (96.7.24 txt)
24. C. Nelan. Quinnipiac College.
    Student's attitude toward the relationship between language and mathematical reasoning. (96.7.24 html)
25. Judy Nesbit. The Montclair Kimberley Academy.
    Teaching mathematical thinking and proofs in high school. (96.7.24 html)
26. K. Paprzycka. Philosophy, University of Pittsburgh.
    Using animated MS Powerpoint presentations in teaching logic. (html) (96.7.24 ascii) (96.7.24 postscript)
27. J. Reinfelds. CS, University of New Mexico State.
    Logic in CS-1 and CS-2. (96.7.24 html) (96.7.24 ascii)
28. A. Selden & J. Selden. Mathematics Education Resources Co.
    The role of logic in proofs of mathematics students. (96.7.24 html) (96.7.24 ascii)
29. C.L. Silver. CS, Southeastern Louisiana.
    Understaaaaaaaaanding mathematics. (96.7.24 postscript and ascii versions)
30. K. Stenning & Lee. Human Communication, Edinburgh U.
    Cognitive processes involved in learning logic. (96.7.24 html) (96.7.24 postscript)

Local Arrangements

A block of rooms has been set aside at the Holiday Inn, 4701 Stelton Road, South Plainfield, New Jersey, 07080. Contact the hotel (908/753-5500) to make reservations.

Directions for driving from the hotel to DIMACS:

• Take the back exit from the parking lot and make a right turn onto Hadley Road.
• Go to the light and make a left turn onto Stelton Road.
• Go to the second light and make a right turn onto Metlars Lane.
• Continue to the light (at which point you will be facing Rackley's Restaurant), and make a left turn (which will keep you on Metlars Lane).
• Stay on Metlars Lane until you come to the fork in the road at the second light. (Metlars Florist will be on your right.)
• Bear right at the fork (you will still be on Metlars Lane), and go through the next light at the intersection of Metlars Lane and Davidson Road. Take the second right AFTER the light onto Brett Road.
• Follow Brett Road up into Lot 64.
• Once you park in lot 64, go to Room 406 in the Computing Research and Education (CoRE) building and get a parking permit from Pat Pravato (DIMACS conference coordinator) for the dashboard of your car.

Federated Logic Conference (FLoC)

The symposium is being held prior to the Federated Logic Conference (FLoC), hosted by DIMACS as part of its Special Year on Logic and Algorithms. FLoC includes the following conferences:

Here is the FLoC home page and information about the Special Year.

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