UT of the Permian Basin Chess

The University of Texas of the Permian Basin
4901 E. University
Odessa, Texas 79762
www.utpb.edu

NEWS RELEASE

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Chess master provides novel teaching approach
Contact: Iris Foster, Interim Public Information Officer, 432-552-2806

Did you know that the game of chess can benefit children in K-12? Furthermore, did you know that there are dozens of chess moves to stimulate scientific inquiry and math problem solving? Or that literacy can be enriched through chess activities?

Dr. Alexey Root, senior lecturer at The University of Texas at Dallas, was the U.S. Women’s Chess Champion in 1989. Prior to that, she was a high school social studies and English teacher. Since then, she’s earned her doctorate in education from UCLA, and has taught education classes. While developing online education courses, she explored the use of chess in classrooms.

Her research led to the publication of three books and co-chairmanship of the U.S. Chess Federation’s Chess in Education Committee. She has developed workshops that incorporate the lesson cycle with core subjects.

She will be presenting ways that gifted and talented (GT) teachers can integrate chess into their lesson plans and still meet state standards at The University of Texas of the Permian Basin on Monday, March 1, from 9:30 a.m to 12:30 p.m. in the second-floor Multi-Purpose Room. That evening, from 6-7 p.m. in Library Lecture Hall 001 on campus, the public is invited to hear how she teaches academic concepts via chess moves as well as how chess clubs and tournaments can be established.

For more information about this novel approach to teaching, please call the UTPB Continuing Education Office at 432-552-2555.