Dr. Bower Invited to Evaluate AP Calculus Exam
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KANSAS CITY, Mo.--Dr. Michelle Bower, chair of the Landmark College Mathematics and Computer Science Department, was selected to participate in the College Board’s Annual Advanced Placement (AP) Reading in AP Calculus. Each June, AP teachers and college faculty members from around the world gather in the United States to evaluate and score the free-response sections of the AP Exams. During the June 2014 scoring sessions, more than 12,500 AP Readers evaluate more than 4.2 million AP Exams.
AP Readers are high school and college educators who represent many of the world’s leading academic institutions. The AP Reading is a unique forum in which an academic dialogue between educators is both fostered and encouraged. “The Reading draws upon the talents of some of the finest teachers and professors that the world has to offer,” said Trevor Packer, Senior Vice President, AP and Instruction at the College Board. “It fosters professionalism, allows for the exchange of ideas, and strengthens the commitment to students and to teaching. We are very grateful for the contributions of talented educators like Michelle Bower.”
The AP Program enables willing and academically prepared students to pursue college-level studies—with the opportunity to earn college credit, advanced placement or both—while still in high school. Through AP courses in 34 subjects, each culminating in a rigorous exam, students learn to analyze complex problems, construct solid arguments, and see many sides of an issue—skills that prepare them for college and beyond. Research indicates that students who score a 3 or higher on an AP Exam typically experience greater academic success in college and are more likely to earn a college degree than non-AP students.
Bower holds a Ph.D. in mathematics education from Illinois State University, as well as an M.A. in mathematics and a B.S. in mathematics education from Ball State University. She joined Landmark College in 2008, having worked previously as a junior computer programmer/mathematician for the U.S. Navy, a high school mathematics and physics instructor, and a professor of mathematics education.