Dr Alistair Carr

Senior Lecturer, Mathematics

Located at: Room 2W-229, Gippsland Campus Postal address: School of Applied Sciences and Engineering Monash University Gippsland Campus, Churchill, Victoria, 3842, Australia Phone: +61 3 512 26466 or +61 3 990 26466 Fax: +61 3 512 26738 or +61 3 990 26738 Email: Alistair.Carr@sci.monash.edu.au

Dr Alistair Carr began working in the School of Applied Sciences at Gippsland Institute late 1979. Since then he has taught applied and engineering mathematics, integral transforms, mathematical modelling, introductory operations research, numerical approximation methods, linear algebra, calculus, differential equations, variational techniques, financial mathematics, introductory maths for nursing students, physics, electromagnetism, Science and Society, and parts of SCI1020 The Design of Science, etc He has developed units in mathematical modelling, and has developed materials to assist secondary teachers introducing modelling into their maths classes. He has worked with organisations including the Mathematical Association of Victoria (MAV), AAMT, the Curriculum Corporation, and ICTMA on teaching mathematical modelling, and mathematics education more generally.

More recently, Alistair has worked on several projects in tertiary mathematics and science education, and is particularly keen to apply interactive multimedia methods to assist students' learning. Dr Carr's PhD is in theoretical physics, and he's still fond of physics and related disciplines.

Teaching Commitments

Alistair is the unit advisor for the following units:

• ENV2792 - Environmental modelling
• MAT1097 - Quantitative analysis
• MAT2731 - Engineering math analysis
• MTH3066 - Differential equations
• MTH3077 - Mathematical modelling
• MTH9020 - Calculus and linear algebra
• STA1010 - Statistical methods for science

Selected Publications

Book chapters

• A Carr, "Problems and Projects for Teaching Modelling", in T. Breiteig, I. Huntley and G. Kaiser-Messmer (eds), Teaching and Learning Mathematics in Context, New York: Ellis Horwood, 1994.
  
  
• A Carr, four chapters in Working Mathematically, Carlton South: Curriculum Corporation, 1994.
  
  
• N Schleiger & A Carr, "Tree Bole Trends", in F. Cirrito et al (eds), The Environment Counts, Brunswick: Mathematical Association of Victoria, 1992.

Courseware and Web tools

Contributor towards:

• Faculty of Science staff, C Varsavsky & A Carr [eds], QED Interactive, Tools for Science, Monash University, 2002 [Web].
  
  
• IT Services, L Webster, Interlearn Steering Committee et al, Interlearn Monash University, 2001- [Web].
  
  
• C Varsavsky with A Carr & R Adlem, T Varsavsky et al, psilon, Monash University, 1998- [CD ROM and Web].

Books with Assoc Prof Peter Galbraith (eds or co-authors):

• Decision Mathematics Pack - Australian Edition [Spode Group, Edward Arnold (Australia)]
  
  
• Problem-Solving Pack - Australian Edition [Spode group, Edward Arnold (Australia)]
  
  
• Maths Focus I [University of Exeter/Project PAM]
  
  
• Project PAM Sample Pack
  
  
• Practical Applications of Mathematics (PAM) Proposal Booklet
  
  
• PAM Second Booklet

Conference papers (with C. Varsavsky)

• "Multimedia in Mathematics Teaching: Does it Work?", CBLIS99, 3rd Conf. Computer-Based Learning in Science: Enschede, Netherlands, July 1999.
  
  
• "Designing an Interactive Learning Environment for University Mathematics: Epsilon", ATCM97, Second Asian Technology Conference in Mathematics: Penang, Malaysia, June 1997.
  
  
• "New teaching and learning through new media", Delta97, Symposium on Modern Undergraduate Mathematics: Brisbane, November 1997.
  
  
• "Epsilon - An Interactive Learning Environment for First Year Mathematics", CBLIS97, 2nd Conf., Leicester, UK, 1997.

Conference papers

• "Materials for teaching mathematics", ICME8, 8th Int'l Congress on Maths Educ: Sevilla, Spain, 1996.
  
  
• "Teaching mathematical modelling", ICME7, 7th Int'l Congress on Maths Educ: Quebec, Canada, 1992.

Consulting

• J-A Larkins & A Carr, Biomarkers statistical investigation, Soils and Water group, AgVic DNRE Ellinbank [with D. Nash and L. Clemow], 2001-2.

Contributing consultant to:

• Maths in Schools Program, DEETYA/MAV, 1995-6.
  
  
• Working Mathematically project, Curriculum Corporation, 1992-3.
  
  
• Summer Leadership Program in Discrete Mathematics, Rutgers University, N. J., USA [J. Rosenstein, S. Picker], 1992.
  
  
• Vetting Panel, Mathematics CAT 2 (VCE), VCAB, 1991-2.
  
  
• NERIS database of mathematics activities, NERIS project/University of Exeter, UK, 1985-6.

Strategic Innovations Fund (Monash University)

• P Rayment, C Varsavsky & A Carr, An innovative approach to qualifying registered secondary teachers to teach mathematics in the 21st century classroom, Science Faculty, 2002-.
  
  
• G Sanson, C Varsavsky, W MacKenzie & A Carr, Learning Science effectively: an integrated approach to facilitate the development of generic skills, Science Faculty, 2001-2.
  
  
• C Varsavsky & A Carr, Development and extension of psilon software for first level Engineering mathematics, Engineering and Science Faculties, 1998-9.

Monash Multimedia Small Grant

• C Varsavsky & A Carr, Extension of psilon to include linear algebra topics.

Other projects

• "Practical Applications of Mathematics" (teaching materials for school teachers) = Project PAM, with P Galbraith (University of Queensland), 1986-.