These tutorials have ben developed by the Western Cape DoE and covers Number patterns and sequences, Functions and graphs, Algebra and equations, Finance, Analytical Geometry, Transformation, Trigonometry and Mensuration, Data handling
Text from an interview with John H. Barrow, Professor of Mathematical Sciences at the University of Cambridge, discussing history of cultural understanding of infinity, as well as different understandings of infinity - mathematical, physical, cosmological
In this lesson, students learn how to measure the area of the tire footprint on a car and to find air pressure using a tire gauge. Students then find the weight of the car using their fraction multiplication skills.
Learning Objectives
Students will:
Estimate weight of a large object
Use a ruler and a tire gauge to take measurements
Collect and record data
Review square units of measure
Calculate area by multiplying fractions
Materials
Strips of poster board
Ruler
Tire gauge
How Much Does a Car Weigh? Activity Sheet
Computer with internet connection
Car
Instructional Plan
In preparation for this lesson, place a car in a safe lcation for the students to measure the tire footprints and pressure. In case of bad weather, find a covered location. Be sure to measure the tire footprint and the pressure (in PSI) of each tire ahead of time, so that you will be able check the accuracy of students' measurements. Also, check the accuracy of your calculation by comparing to it to the weight of the car listed on the sticker inside the driver's door or in the vehicle manual.
By the end of the day, data may change because air has leaked out of the tires while students were using the tire gauge. For safety, check the tires before driving home.
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!
What does it mean to be a successful science or math teacher? The definition of success is an elusive thing and measured in many ways. Merriam-Webster dictionary defines success as - resulting in or gaining a favorable outcome. This, without a doubt, is your and every other teacher's goal for their students.
In contrast to the digital footprint you use for your personal learning network, this focus is on the online digital footprint students' use in your science or math classroom. The power of a well designed digital footprint brings the capacity to transform a classroom into an online learning community. Within this community your students use digital tools to create and develop a personal learning network.
"Math Applets for Calculus at SLU" Great set of apps from Mike May. He does a nice job of supporting teachers who might be interested in using these in their classes with students.
Does your child have difficulty in school, especially when it involves math? Is it time to call in reinforcements and get a little bit of help? Have you considered online math tutoring ? Wait! Before you answer, consider how far technology has come since you were in school. Today, traditional methods may not be the answer to your questions. Step into the future of education with online math tutoring.
Does your child need help with math homework,? He/she is a great student, and really wants to learn, but often material presented is confusing, especially when it comes to learning math. A different teaching style, and help with math homework, would certainly put your child back on the road to academic success again. You simply need someone who is trained to compliment your child's learning style and help him/her work through the concepts.
Is your child having trouble with the simplest equations in elementary mathematics, or does he/she need help preparing for the SAT? At either end of the spectrum or somewhere in the middle, would personalized help with math homework be beneficial? Why suffer needless hours of frustrating study? Help with math homework is only a click away.
Does your child need qualified help with math homework? Academically speaking, some subjects are naturally easier for some students than others. When the material is understandable, learning can be enjoyable and the assignments are no big deal. But, if the concepts are difficult to comprehend, like mathematics, help with math homework is so important.
How big a role does randomness play in our lives? Do we live in a world of magic and meaning or … is it all just chance and happenstance? To tackle this question, we look at the role chance and randomness play in sports, lottery tickets, and even the cells in our own body. Along the way, we talk to a woman suddenly consumed by a frenzied gambling addiction, two friends whose meeting seems purely providential, and some very noisy bacteria.
"overview of the landscape of K-12 STEM education by considering different school models, highlighting research on effective STEM education practices, and identifying some conditions that promote and limit school- and student-level success in STEM. It can serve as a guide for those involved in K-12 education at all levels: policy makers; decision makers at the school and district levels; local, state, and federal government agencies; curriculum developers; educators; and parent and education advocacy groups." Findings, according to a Science magazine news story indicate that STEM teaching matters more than specialized STEM schools. Report does indicate steps to improve STEM education, involving investments in resources and teacher training, see :http://bit.ly/kRPyH3
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."