"The aim of this article is to illustrate a pedagogical strategy originally introduced elsewhere [8, 9]
of linking the application-oriented, computer-enabled experiential approach to K-12 mathematics with the
applied, project-based approach to the teaching of university mathematics at the undergraduate level."
A response to Hacker's opinion piece in the Sunday New York Times, "Is Algebra Necessary," which argues for its usefulness, calls for better teaching, while acknowledges the difficulties of making that happen. Links to other blog responses to Hacker's piece.
This Flickr group (which I just started) has "bad graphs" which I am collecting as a resource for math educators. Please apply to join the group if you are interested in adding your own resources to it. Otherwise, feel free to use the graphs and data visualizations we've collected.
"Why Learn It (WLI) aims to address the issue of motivation around learning math by helping students
explore the beauty and relevance of what they would otherwise dismiss as inconsequential in school.
Targeting late middle-school and early high-school students, WLI takes a hybrid approach to cultivat-
ing motivation. It leverages the engagement value of short (approximately three-minute long) videos
depicting real people talking about how math and computational thinking are critical to their successes
in a number of professional areas. Students then complete a series of interactive exercises that help
students explore an application area discussed in the video in more detail. These exercises, however,
are not simply drill problems aimed at making students experts in a particular content area. Instead,
they are multi-step assignments that require the students to draw upon both detailed mathematical
knowledge and a big picture view of how this knowledge can be used to draw useful, meaningful
conclusions. The exercises are focused on bridging the worlds of number, images, and sounds in or-
der to help students build intuition around a particular topic. Therefore, while some questions have
objectively correct responses, others require students to gather knowledge they have built through
answering previous questions within the packet to draw new inferences. Hints are provided along the
1
way to ensure students receive assistance when necessary. Finally, WLI is housed online and is oered
for free, signifying minimal barriers to usage by educators and students."
"Hicks, a professor in Drexel's College of Arts and Sciences, designed his mirror using a mathematical algorithm that precisely controls the angle of light bouncing off of the curving mirror."
Review of 1999 book on cosmology demonstrating universal phenomena contingent on six numbers. "Forget those 1,000 things you need to do before you die, the 10 commandments and seven deadly sins. Concentrate instead on six impossible things that, as the White Queen advised Alice, you must try to believe before breakfast. Without them there would be no galaxies of stars, no chemistry, no people, no books and no breakfast."
"June 23 marks the 100th birthday of Alan Turing. If I had to name five people whose personal efforts led to the defeat of Nazi Germany, the English mathematician would surely be on my list."
"In In Pursuit of the Unknown, celebrated mathematician Ian Stewart uses a handful of mathematical equations to explore the vitally important connections between math and human progress."
"Measurement explains how math should be done. With plain English and pictures, [Lockhart] makes complex ideas about shape and motion intuitive and graspable, and offers a solution to math phobia by introducing us to math as an artful way of thinking and living."
Abstract: "Middle school students lack efficient problem solving skills due to several factors. The writing
process has been linked to the development of students' problem solving skills. The present study
investigated the impact of the writing process on the mathema
tical problem solving skills for middle
grades students. N = 96 students participated in a six weeks, after school STEM program, and they
were randomly assigned into two groups: one focused on the writing process with mathematical
problem solving and the o
ther on homework/high stakes test preparation with mathematical
problem solving. In this quantitative study, the results provide evidence that the students from the
writing process group were more likely to generate and apply better problem solving skills
as
compared to the control group. This study further contributes to the support and importance of
integrating different subjects across the generalized learning realm"
"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. "