From the abstract: "ew innovations by math-
ematicians themselves are starting to harness the power of
social computation to create new modes of mathematical
production. We study the effectiveness of one such system,
and make proposals for enhancement, drawing on AI and
computer based mathematics. We analyse the content of a
sample of questions and responses in the community ques-
tion answering system for research mathematicians,
math-
overflow
. We find that
mathoverflow
is very effective, with
90% of our sample of questions answered completely or in
part. A typical response is an informal dialogue, allowing
error and speculation, rather than rigorous mathematical
argument: 37% of our sample discussions acknowledged er-
ror. Responses typically present information known to the
respondent, and readily checked by other users: thus the
effectiveness of
mathoverflow
comes from information shar-
ing. We conclude that extending and the power and reach of
mathoverflow
through a combination of people and machines
raises new challenges for artificial intelligence and compu
ta-
tional mathematics, in particular how to handle error, anal
-
ogy and informal reasoning."
Abstract: "Why do people contribute content to communities of question-
answering, such as Yahoo!Answers? We investigated this
issue on MathOverflow, a site dedicated to research-level
mathematics, in which users ask and answer questions. Math-
Overflow is the first in a growing number of specialized Q&A
sites using the Stack Exchange platform for scientific collab-
oration. In this study we combine responses to a survey with
collected data on posting behavior on the site. User behavior
suggests that building reputation is an important incentive,
even though users do not report this in the survey. Level of
expertise affects users' reported motivation to help others,
but does not affect the importance of reputation building.
We discuss the implications for the design of communities
to target and encourage more contributions."
"Diagramly is a free online diagram drawing application. You can use it to create UML, entity relationship, org charts, BPMN and BPM, database schema and networks. Also possible are telecommunication network, workflow, flowcharts, maps overlays and GIS, electronic circuit and social network diagrams. It's like a mini version of Visio in your browser."
"A University of Missouri researcher has found that children's weight is associated with their math performance. When compared with children who were never obese, boys and girls whose obesity persisted from the start of kindergarten through fifth grade performed worse on the math tests, starting in first grade."
"The focus of this digitally mediated learning activity centers on the mathematics department in the Easton and Redding (ER9) school district in Connecticut. Currently, ER9 teachers have technology in the classroom, but many teachers have expressed uncertainty about how to implement this technology in their classrooms. Based on the foundations of the constructivist learning theory, math teachers will learn how technology fits into the student learning cycle. Interested teachers will form a community of practice (CoP) to learn about and apply engaging technology in the classroom. Some technologies discussed include game-based learning, mobile/Web 2.0 apps such as Prezi, Animation and Edmodo. As a result of this technology CoP, teachers will learn to implement at least one new technology into their classroom and engage in communication between CoP members using MOODLE. "
Online Communities of Enquiry in Mathematics Education. A free article in a conversational style with practical tips for online communications and learning. Colin McAllister and Rebecca Hanson ask: What is it like to take part in online discussions? How do moderators and contributors create active and successful conversations? How is the technology employed in the management of discussion forums evolving? What could be achieved through discussion forums in the future?
A blog on introverts considers the methods of one-on-one learning in mathematics and other disciplines practiced at the Khan Academy, acknowledging the importance of balance between individual and group learning.
"The Middle School Stream aims to motivate and engage middle school students (grades 5 through 8) in STEM learning, 21st Century Literacy Skills and Systems Thinking by challenging them to design original video games.
The High School Stream aims to motivate and engage high school students (grades 9 through 12) in STEM learning, 21st Century Literacy Skills and Systems Thinking by challenging them to design original video games.
The Collegiate Stream challenges emerging game developers at the graduate and undergraduate levels to design video games for children (grades pre-K through 8) that teach key STEM concepts and foster an interest in STEM subject areas.
The Educator Stream challenges educators to design video games for children (grades pre-K through 12) that teach key STEM concepts and foster an interest in STEM subject areas."
Conceived by Mathematica creator and scientist Stephen Wolfram as a way to bring computational exploration to the widest possible audience, the Wolfram Demonstrations Project is an open-code resource that uses dynamic computation to illuminate concepts in science, technology, mathematics, art, finance, and a remarkable range of other fields.\n\nIts daily-growing collection of interactive illustrations is created by Mathematica users from around the world, who participate by contributing innovative Demonstrations.
The Middle School Portal 2: Math and Science Pathways project (MSP2) is a component of the National Science Digital Library (NSDL) that supports middle school educators and youth by offering contextualized, high-quality resources and promotes interactivity, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing among its users. Educators can access MSP2 to increase content knowledge in the areas of science, mathematics, and technology, and to build knowledge on developmentally appropriate pedagogy for youth aged 10 to 15. MSP2 also connects middle school youth to fun and engaging information on math, science, and technology, as well as health, safety, and career exploration. Web tools such as blogs, wikis, podcasts, RSS feeds, and social networking services are being used in the continued development of MSP2 to transform passive, text-based information into a dynamic, collaborative experience that promotes the creation, modification, and sharing of resources, and facilitates professional development. MSP2 is a project of The Ohio State University, National Middle School Association, and Education Development Center, Inc., and is funded by the National Science Foundation.