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Helmut Knaust, PhD

Associate Professor

Department of Mathematical Sciences

UT El Paso

Teaching has given me a natural outlet for my love of learning. I consider it a privilege to have been able to spend most of my life in school environments, both as a learner and teacher.

I am heavily influenced by the Inquiry Based Learning movement in mathematics that has its roots in the teaching practices of University of Texas professor R.L. Moore (1882-1974). While I lecture to some extent in most of my classes, hoping that my enthusiasm for mathematics will be contagious, I know that lecturing is not a very effective way of helping my students learn. Students must construct their own mathematical knowledge. Thus my main task in the classroom is to guide my students' active learning.