Professional Background
Teaching experiences include, in chronological order, Terre Haute North High School, Indiana State University, Lafayette Central Catholic High School, Purdue University, Aurora University, Waubonsie Community College, Triton College, and since 2001 - the College of DuPage.

Industrial experience focused in Telecommunications and Information Technology, primarily Product Development and Management Consulting including assignments with Bell Labs, AT&T, Bell Communications Research, Ameritech, Telcordia Technologies, Performance Technology Group, and SIM2K.

Educational Background
Bachelor of Science, Indiana State University (Math Major and Physics Minor)

Master of Science, Purdue University (Applied Math Major with additional concentrations in Industrial Engineering and Mathematical Analysis)

MBA and Systems Engineering course work at Illinois Institute of Technology

Additional Industry Management Training in Leadership, Quality, and Product Development and Management.

Currently pursuing doctoral level coursework in the Mathematics and Science Education program at Illinois Institute of Technology.

Classes Taught

Current (6/10- 8/1) Teaching and Advising Assignment*: Summer 2008

Math 1533: Finite Mathematics
Math 1635: Statistics
Math 2231: Calculus I
BCIL: Bloomingdale Center for Independent Learning

Current teaching and research is concentrated on developmental mathematics.  Previously at COD, I have taught classroom courses ranging from developmental mathematics through statistics, calculus, and differential equations.

In the Math Centers for Independent Learning and the Math Assistance Areas , I have worked with students working throughout the academic mathematics curriculum.  In Continuing Education programs, I have taught graduate entrance exam preparation courses for the GRE, LSAT, and GMAT , tutored through the COD scholar's academy, and delivered college entrance SAT/ACT mathematics preparation courses. 

Representative syllabi are available on course websites.   Please contact me for access codes or additional information.

Teaching Style
Each class is unique - both in content and in individual student make-up, so adaptability aimed at maximizing success opportunities - is certainly a teaching style cornerstone. I focus on providing a clear structured environment, frequent measurements of progress, and significant opportunities for interaction. Moreover, particularly in Math, one learns and improves by doing - not by watching. This motivates my favored analogy of successful collaborative roles for students and instructors.

The instructor's role is like that of an athletic trainer. The student's role is like that of a motivated athlete. Doing the homework is like executing the designed fitness program. Our common goal is the student's success in demonstrating a working mastery of the course content.

Research Interests and Projects
Focused on developmental mathematics - how to better enable students to master and retain the mathematics skills necessary for their success.  Applications of mathematics, such as shown in the following table and associated hyperlinks, continue to be strong areas of problem solving interests.

 

Mathematical applications in the natural and applied sciences !
Simulation models predict meteorological phenomena, and give rise to new fields of study, such as Chaos theory.	Geometry plays an ongoing role in architectural designs and implementations.	Number Theory plays a critical role in secure computer communications.	Linear Algebra and Partial Differential Equations define the physics associated with subatomic particles known as Quantum Mechanics
Statistics are being used to guide business decisions - even in sports like our national pastime, baseball!	Applied Probability and Information Theory plays a critical role in molecular biology research at the National Cancer Research Institute.	Calculus was invented to understand the underlying Physics associated with gravitational forces.  Today these same techniques are used by modern astronomers to explore our universe.	Applied probability and Linear Programming are used to great advantage in the study of game theory.  Game theory, in turn, has been used to understand economic behavior, warfare strategies, and biological evolution.

Previously in industry, I was interested in the mathematical and computer applications modeling of business processes. These earlier projects span the economic modeling of alternative deployment strategies for network technologies, modeling of telecommunications aftermarket costs, and design for standards, new product development, and supplier management business processes.

In Memory

My wife of thirty-three-plus years passed away recently.  She was a brilliant mother, a proud grandmother, and an outstanding teacher.  She never missed an opportunity to encourage, help, or inspire her family, her friends,  and her students through her deeds, her teaching,  and her courageous life example.  Together we

• Raised three children (Jeremy, Charlie, and Beth)
• Rejoiced as Charlie and his wife Indra were blessed with our grandson,  Grant
• Fed and otherwise entertained a chocolate Labrador Retriever (Snickers) and his step-sister, a (high maintenance) Bichon Frise (Daisy).  I continue to feed them.

Contact(s)

Jim Bradley (aka Patrick)
Associate Professor of Mathematics
IC 3080B
630-942-3973
bradley@dupage.edu

Natural and Applied Sciences Division