Spotlight on Classes: Analytic Number Theory

Each week, the students are able to list their preferences for which classes they would like to take. They take one course for four hours a day, and another for two hours a day. Each week, new classes are offered and the students have the opportunity to immerse themselves in different advanced mathematical topics.

While each of BEAM’s classes explores incredibly interesting and advanced ideas, we’ve put together a spotlight on just one of the six courses offered this week: Analytic Number Theory with Cory. 

The class has just seven students, with a teacher and a teaching assistant—the kids get to really get to know one another and the staff members! In just three days, the class has gone from not knowing what a function is to being able to find the limit as n approaches infinity of f(n) = (-1)n/n: zero. The students are basically doing calculus without using the word “calculus” itself! 

Sitting in on the class, what is most impressive to our staff, even more than the sheer speed and intensity of the class, is how engaged each student is. Cory will give short lectures, but for a majority of the class, the students work in small groups in order to work on difficult problem sets. Mostly, they are teaching themselves the topics! Today in class, we were beyond impressed to see how each of the students was able to find patterns and draw conclusions from sequences of numbers.

When Anaís and Cynthia talked about the class, they said that they couldn’t believe how much they were learning in such a short period of time!

Jack agreed, saying: “I’ve learned more math in the past three days than I did in the last two months.” 

Cynthia, Jack, Anaís, and Alvin work together on the board

Week two classes are now officially over at BEAM 7 Union College. We can't wait to see how much learning takes place in week three!

Welcome BEAM Bard 2018!

As always, this time of the year is highly anticipated by not only prospective students but also by instructors. As the BEAM staff made their way to Bryant Park on this July 7th, excitement seized every face. We could not wait to meet or be reunited with the young intellects who have decided to explore their curiosity for Math by attending BEAM 2018. 

BEAM students getting to know staff and each other.

While parents signed forms and students found their road buddies, the BEAM students embarked on the new journey to Bard College. Upon their safe arrival at their new home, the faces that once seemed too nervous to separate from families members now experienced a form of joy that stemmed from the new friendships made on the road. 

BEAM students on swing outside Student Center.

Before the grand tour of the school's campus and their classrooms, students were first brought to the new home now known as Keen. As bags were being rolled in dorms and students met their remaining staff, this experience became more realistic to most. After the kids had settled in, they were given a tour of their beautiful campus and they enjoyed the community's swing.

After that, we headed to what seems to be one of our most liked places on campus--- the dining room. After a few countless bowls of vegetables, fruits, and desserts, we headed back to the dorms for the preparation of next day's evening activities. 

As the sun settled down and eyes became wearier, BEAM students headed to bed with the intentions of resting for their full first day.

Here are all 40 of our students upon arrival to campus! We're sure this is going to be an amazing summer. 

Weekend 2 at Bard: Debates, Relays, and Field Day

Instructor Tanya gathers the attention of members of the Orange Team as everybody prepares for Field Day activities.

It has been a jam-packed weekend at Bard BEAM 7, with Saturday marking the end of week 2 courses, an impromptu student-vs.-staff debate, round 2 of relays, and an all-day Field Day concluding with a student-vs.-staff game of capture the flag.

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Saturday Highlights:

Saturday was marked by a sudden decision which will likely leave a lasting legacy at BEAM 7: a program wide debate. After some quick logistical considerations, the plan became to have four rounds of student vs. staff debates, with the groups of student and staff debaters changing with each round. The groups of students who debated against staff were determined earlier in the day by having various groups of students practice debating against each other, with the staff choosing the groups which they believed would pose the biggest challenge.

So about what exactly did we debate? After careful consideration, the debate moderators--consisting of counselor Dave as well as students Jade, Camila, and Anthony--decided on four pressing, relevant, and emotional topics. At the beginning of each round, each side was randomly assigned to either argue FOR the issue at hand, or AGAINST it. The topics were as follows:

1. Should high school students be guaranteed a daily recess?
2. Should BEAM allow cell phones at all meals with out any rules?
3. Should Modules be abolished from the BEAM program?
4. Does pineapple belong on pizza?

After each round, all individuals who did not participate in that round got to vote on which side they thought argued their stance better. Staff won rounds 1 and 4 arguing for required recess and pineapple on pizza. Students won rounds 2 and 3 arguing against allowing cell phones but arguing to keep Modules in BEAM.

Immediately following these intense debates were another round of relays. Relays are a team-style competition where students complete problems in order to gain points. The teams with the most points get to choose from a selection of neat prizes! Check out some pictures of the event below.

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Sunday: FIELD DAY!

First of all, what constitutes a "Field Day"? Field Days can take many forms, and the exact schedule of one can vary across different summer programs. The general idea, however, is a day full of fun activities in which teams compete against each other to earn points--the team with the most points at the end of the day wins! For BEAM's field day, the winning team was rewarded with an extra helping of dessert at dinner.

Field Day!

After starting the morning with a late breakfast, students and staff divided up into the four field day teams: Red, Green, Purple, and Orange. With two staff members leading each team of 10, Field Day began with a 30 minute team meeting where strategy for the first event was discussed and face paint was distributed to get into the spirit of each team's color. Once everybody was decorated and ready, field day began! Here was the schedule of events:

1. 11-12 Photo Scavenger Hunt
2. 12-1 Break for Lunch and Opening Ceremonies
3. 1-1:30 Team Relay - Ping Pong Ball Balancing, Hula Hooping, and Jump Roping
4. 1:30-2 Human Knots
5. 2-2:45 Dance Off Competition
6. 2:45-3:15 Frisbee Throwing for Accuracy and Sponge Relay
7. 3:15-4:15 Tug of War and Break
8. 4:15-5 Water Balloon Fight and Water Balloon Cleanup Competition

After all the activities were finished, students got some down time before heading to dinner, with a game of Capture the Flag--again, students vs. staff--following dinner. Check out field day photos below!

“I really enjoyed field day because I got to do things that I’ve never been able to do in the city before. Playing tug-of-war, having a dance off, and participating in a water balloon fight were all incredible.”

— Sebastian