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"This is an exploration of the hypothesis that unique belief systems depend for their coherence on distinctive patterns typically embodied in geometrical symbols in two dimensions. On the basis of that assumption, the case tentatively explored here is that of the "incommensurability" of the 5-fold Star of Islam and the 6-fold Star of David of Judaism -- both symbols appearing on flags of the nations having those distinct faiths. ... The approach taken here explores the possibility that the "pieces" only fit together on a three-dimensional surface, namely a sphere. It is the spherical geometry that then merits consideration, together with the challenge of how to get from any "mis-fitting" two-dimensional layout to a three-dimensional form. Of course, two-dimensional layouts are far more readily comprehensible. Hence the focus on them. However the three-dimensional layout has the potential of rendering comprehensible a far more elegant layout which may well exemplify intuitions characteristic of the faiths so dramatically opposed. The approach follows from various earlier explorations of the potential of mathematics to offer a new perspectives on these issues" ....

"The article reports the main insights gained from a study that implemented a game-enhanced learning environment for the training of pre-service elementary school teachers. Teachers taking an undergraduate mathematics methods course experienced some of the ways in which online educational games could help students internalize key mathematical concepts across the school curriculum while at the same time improving their attitudes towards the subject. The course also familiarized teachers with the design principles for constructivist gaming environments. Findings indicate a positive impact on teachers' competence in selecting, evaluating, and productively using online games as an instructional tool."

LOG IN February 22, 2012 at 2pm Eastern US time: http://tinyurl.com/math20event During the event, John Mason will lead a conversation about multiplication as scaling, and answer questions about his books, projects and communities. All events in the Math Future weekly series: http://mathfuture.wikispaces.com/events The recording will be at: http://mathfuture.wikispaces.com/JohnMason Your time zone: http://bit.ly/wQYN1Y Event challenge! What good multiplication tasks about scaling do you know? Share links and thoughts! John writes about elastic multiplication: "It is often said that 'multiplication is repeated addition' when what is meant is that 'repeated addition is an instance of multiplication'. I have been developing some tasks which present 'scaling as multiplication' based around familiarity with elastic bands. Participants would benefit from having an elastic (rubber) band to hand which they have cut so as to make a strip; wider is better than thinner if you have a choice." About John Mason John Mason has been teaching mathematics ever since he was asked to tutor a fellow student when he was fifteen. In college he was at first unofficial tutor, then later an official tutor for mathematics students in the years behind him, while tutoring school students as well. After a BSc at Trinity College, Toronto in Mathematics, and an MSc at Massey College, Toronto, he went to Madison Wisconsin where he encountered Polya's film 'Let Us Teach Guessing', and completed a PhD in Combinatorial Geometry. The film released a style of teaching he had experienced at high school from his mathematics teacher Geoff Steel, and his teaching changed overnight. His first appointment was at the Open University, which involved among other things the design and implementation of the first mathematics summer school (5000 students over 11 weeks on three sites in parallel). He called upon his experience of being taught, to institute active-problem-solving sessions, w

A picnic themed measuring game. Move your ant around the course by inputting the inches to travel. Play full screen at http://www.fuelthebrain.com/Game/swfs/antWalk.swf http://j.mp/xNy0My http://ictmagic.wikispaces.com/Maths

Download prospectuses of universities and colleges across the world. Admission Times has the world largest university database and all the prospectuses are free to download. Admission Times expert advice will help you finding the right course, right university and the right career path. Discover universities across the world and share this page across your friends.

Geared toward developing good instructional strategies for entry level geo-science courses at the post-secondary setting, the suggestions can easily be applied to 6-12 setting and are just good instructional practices. Well organized and includes different perspectives and connected content. I thoroughly agree with the mathematical modeling discussion. It's worth reading

Tips and tricks for the iPod Touch are needed to assist teachers in making the process easier when using this digital device for teaching and learning. As these digital devices become more widespread in classrooms, the need for more efficient use of these tools is coming to the forefront. This evolutionary course of action is resulting in more efficient and time saving strategies. The purpose of these 10 tips and tricks is to provide teachers, both novice and experienced, with features and applications (apps) designed to make an iPod Touch's functions easier to use. These features and apps offer the ability to customize this device to resolve management issues and integrate efficiently with other digital devices, such as a Mac laptop.

Here is where you'll find the course content for Spring, 2009. Assignments are here. Syllabus is here. GEOGEBRA: Throughout the notes, you will find many GeoGebra applets.  These are interactive Java applets.  To activate them, just click on them, and wait for the applet to load.  If you're using Internet Explorer, you may have to click on the "Allow ActiveX control" warning bar at the top of your browser, for the applet to load.  I encourage you to download GeoGebra yourself, or use the "Web Start" option, over at http://www.geogebra.org .  It's very easy to use, and a lot of fun!

This is a compilation of Karl's Transparent Algebra posts. He does such an incredible job of making his thinking visible for all of us in how he is planning his course for the upcoming year. I share it because I think it's a valuable example of a reflective practitioner and worth sharing. If you have any teachers who might benefit from reading some of his reasoning, I encourage you to send them to his blog!

The Middle School Mathematics Institute (msmi 2010) will be held in Saint Paul, MN June 14 - June 18, 2010. This event is for teachers in grades 4 - 8. The institute is a 5 day course, where middle school teachers will learn the mathematics behind the math they teach. This year the subject is fractions, decimals, and percentages.

An entire course!

John Faig's recipe for a Web 2.0 math course.

In Educator's Algebra I course, instructor Dr. Grant Fraser walks you through the building blocks of mathematics, starting from Functions, Graphs, and Inequalities, to Factoring, Polynomials, and Rational Expressions. Utilizing his 27 years of teaching experience, UCLA educated (Ph.D and B.S.) Professor Fraser carefully explains each concept from multiple angles to ensure learners of any math ability can master Algebra. Dr. Fraser finishes off every idea with a reinforcing example in addition to the four worked-out video examples and things to remember at the end of each lecture.

When the great mathematician Isaac Newton explained the colours of the rainbow with refraction the poet John Keats was horrified. Keats complained (through poetry of course) that a mathematical explanation robbed these marvels of nature of their magic, conquering "all mysteries by rule and line". But as we will see, the mathematical explanation, requiring just the basic geometry of lines and circles, is just as elegant as the rainbows themselves.

"Understanding Probability is a unique and stimulating approach to a first course in probability. The first part of the book demystifies probability and uses many wonderful probability applications from everyday life to help the reader develop a feel for probabilities. The second part, covering a wide range of topics, teaches clearly and simply the basics of probability. ... The first part of the book, with its easy-going style, can be read by anybody with a reasonable background in high school mathematics. The second part of the book requires a basic course in calculus."

Great Initiative!!

Abstract: "A simulated academic career was combined with inquiry-based learning in an upper-division undergraduate mathematics course. Concepts such as tenure, professional conferences and journals were simulated. Simulation procedures were combined with student-led, inquirybased classroom formats. A qualitative analysis (ethnography) describes the culture that emerged within the simulation during a pilot test. A discussion follows evaluating the potential for career simulations to invite students to consider graduate studies and academic careers in the STEM disciplines."

"To help teachers and students succeed on the Algebra 1 End-of-Course exam (EOC), the University of Florida and Study Edge have created Algebra Nation - a FREE, online, easy-to-use, EOC preparation resource aligned with the latest state standards."

"Take Back Math's Algebra, Pre-Algebra, and Algebra Readiness mobile apps are created by a credentialed, experienced California math teacher who has a passion for math education. These apps offer full math courses with easy to follow instruction that can really help students."

"Abstract: Some were born to do math, some persevered past fearful environments, while others withdrew. In this qualitative study, adults describe life with algebra and the meaning they sought. For all, pedagogy was critical, either positively or negatively; and all found salvation in intervention."