MDC Faculty

Juan Prieto-Valdes Ph.D.

Professor

Mathematics


Phone: (305)237-2459

Email: jprietov@mdc.edu

Office Location: Kendall Campus | Room 3245

Juan Prieto-Valdes Ph.D.

My Background and Interests

Over 30 years of professional experience, as an educator, as a researcher and administrator. Successful in academic work and in the industrial enterprise. Strong background in Mathematics, Solid-State Physics, Materials Science and Technology of Materials; effective with the design and implementation of commercial projects involving a broad range of technologies and data analysis.

During the last 20 years, Professor Prieto-Valdes reduced his work in materials research, devoting himself mostly to the teaching of mathematics, statistics, and physics at undergraduate level, from high school and college remedial to upper college and university levels, conducting active mathematical sciences education research, as reported below.

Experienced teaching young and adult learners, face to face and in an online environment. Proficient teaching and developing new learning methodologies and online courses with internationally recognized results in technology application for math and data analysis education.

In 2015 Professor Prieto-Valdes was recognizes by The President of the United States, Mr. Barak Obama, with Life-Time Achievement Award for his contribution to education and community.

In 2018 Professor Prieto Valdes Received the Endowed Teaching Chair at Miami Dade College for his Outstanding Contribution to Education and Dedication to his Students. Professor Prieto-Valdes is the author of several practical math books. In addition, in his spare time he has practiced the jobs of literature and the fine art of painting, owning an extensive number of copyrights. He possesses unique abilities to link science and art in his teaching style: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxLIAddyoL0&t=3s


POST DOCTORAL TRAINING:

1. Graduate Course EDG 5225 “Analysis of Teaching”. Florida International University. Fall 2006.

2. Spring College on “Nucleation, Growth and Segregation: Statistical and Numeric Analysis”.  International Center for Theoretical Physics (ITCP), Trieste, Italy. 1991.

3. Spring College and Workshop “Advanced Mathematical Modeling: Composite Media and Theory of Homogenization”, International Center for Theoretical Physics (ITCP), Trieste, Italy. 1990.

4. Workshop on “High Performance Materials and Remediation Technologies”. Insti-tute of Material Problems, Academy of Science of USSR, Kiev. 1982.

WORK EXPERIENCE:

1. Professor. Math. Department, Miami Dade College, Miami, FL, USA. From 1997 to Currently. Teaching all college math subjects and levels, from remedial classes to upper college level.

2. Adjunct Professor. Math & Statistics Department. University of Maryland / Universi-ty College. Maryland, USA. From 2017-Currently. Teaching online Calculus-1 and II.

3. Manager CEO, Association for Biomaterials R & D, Inc. / ECOMAT Corp. USA. Consult-ing services in Business Optimization, for national and foreign customers, 1997- 2005. Later on, I continue providing sporadic consulting services: Math and statistical analysis in operations and process optimization.

4. Adjunct Faculty. Mathematics and Statistics Department. Florida International Uni-versity, FL, USA. 2002-2004. Teaching all undergraduate math and stat level.

5. Full Professor & Chair Person, National Polytechnic Institute of Mexico (IPN). School of Physics and Mathematics, México D.F. 1992-1996. Full Professor of Physics- and Principal Researcher, Materials Research Project of the National Committee Of Sci-ence and Technology.

6. Program Director and Research Professor, School of Physics and Mathematics, Insti-tute of Advanced Materials, University of Havana, Cuba 1987-1991. 

7. Researcher ?Associated Professor ? Professor & Division Chair. Institute of Mate-rials Research (CIME), Havana, Cuba. 1979 ? 1981 ? 1984 to 1886.

RECENT AWARDS
1. Endowed Teaching Chair, Miami Dade College (2018).
2. Lifetime Achievement Honor Award & Presidential Decoration. Endowed by The President of The United States, Mr. Barak Obama (2015)

RECENT MATH EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH (2017-2022)

1. MEMBER OF THE TEAM OF THE COMMISSION FOR THE INCORPORATION OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN COLLEGE MATH CONTENT, 2022-2023. Preparation of two courses about “math for machine learning and artificial intelligence for the advanced college level at the Miami Dade College based on INTEL academics suggestions.

2. FROM PENCIL TO COMPUTER IN MATH EDUCATION (PROJECT-I), 2010-2016. 
An experimental College Algebra notebook was created incorporating a group of computer-aided exercises. The utilization of this experimental notebook in a large number of classes yielded effective increment of the retention and passing rates, receiving positive feedback from students and supporting opinion from peers during math retreat and international presentation.

3. FROM PENCIL TO COMPUTER IN MATH EDUCATION (PROJECT-II), 2014-2017. 
This is a two years’ investigation in real classes. Learning materials include computer soft-ware and smart apps, in addition to a Business Calculus Notebook specially prepared for technologically featured class. In addition to traditional calculus topics, a group of challeng-ing computer aided exercises and procedures were incorporated which requires genuinely math understanding.

4. PREPARING MATH COLLEGE STUDENTS FOR THE WORLD OF BIG DATA (2016-2017)
An approach to prepare students better for the big data world incorporating in traditional course program some application project: MATHLAB, Mathematica, and/or Wolfram Alpha Engine. A group of computer aide exercises for systems with infinite number of elements, introductory examples related to chaotic dynamics and game theory, infinite series and im-proper integrals, among other examples. Students learned how to use software for solving math problem of high complexity.

5. DATA ANALYTICS IMPLEMENTATION ACROSS MULTIPLE DISCIPLINES (2017-2019)
An approach to prepare school and university students for the today data driven society. The incorporation of understanding and extract insights from big data in traditional mathe-matics courses is a need for the future well-being of humanity. Application projects related to big data analysis were developed/included as a part of this study in the traditional busi-ness calculus course. A group of computer aide exercises for systems with infinite number of elements, with application to a variety of disciplines: chemistry, physics, biology and en-vironmental science. This research is in progress.

Education

  • Ph.D. Physics & Mathematics Polytechnic University of Kharkov. Ukraine. 1978.
  • Engineer Physicist and Ms. is Sc. Polytechnic University of Kharkov. Ukraine. 1974.

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