Mark L. Daniels

Mark L. Daniels serves as Professor of Practice in Mathematics and Associate Director of the UTeach Program in Natural Sciences at the University of Texas at Austin, where he has established himself as a leader in mathematics education and inquiry-based learning methodologies. His academic credentials include a B.A. from the University of Chicago, an M.A. from the University of Idaho, and an Ed.D. from Walden University of Minnesota. As Assistant Chair in the Mathematics Department and Director of the Discovery Learning Project, he has significantly influenced curriculum development through creating and teaching multiple inquiry-based mathematics courses, particularly focusing on preparing pre-service teachers. His expertise spans discovery learning, chaos theory, dynamic systems, and mathematical analysis, leading to influential publications including co-authored textbooks with Efraim Armendariz such as "Constructing Numbers: An Inquiry-Based Capstone Course in Mathematics" and "Functions in Mathematics: Introductory Explorations for Secondary School Teachers." His contributions to mathematics education have been recognized through numerous awards, including the Regents Outstanding Teaching Award, USEA Outstanding Faculty Teaching Award, and College of Natural Sciences Teaching Excellence Award. Through his role as Co-Director of the Inquiry-based Learning Project in Mathematics and faculty advisor for teaching options in the Mathematics Department, he continues to advance discovery-based instructional methodology while mentoring future mathematics educators and conducting research on the preparation of pre-service mathematics teachers and the incorporation of discovery-based instructional methodology in university undergraduate mathematics courses.