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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

The Multiplication Tool supports the teaching and learning of multi-digit multiplication, a critical elementary math skill that many students have difficulty mastering, but which is essential to success in middle and high school mathematics and beyond.

The goal of the Multiplication Tool is to help learners significantly improve their ability to multiply. To teach multiplication, this tool models three common solving methods, including Standard, Partial Products and Lattice. Students, or teachers, can choose the method they find most intuitive, or use the method they find most challenging.

"This paper describes a research project on Year 3 primary school students in Malaysia in their use of computer-based video game to enhance learning of multiplication facts (tables) in the Mathematics subject. This study attempts to investigate whether video games could actually contribute to positive effect on children's learning or otherwise. In conducting this study, the researchers assume a neutral stand in the investigation as an unbiased outcome of the study would render reliable response to the impact of video games in education which would contribute to the literature of technology-based education as well as impact to the pedagogical aspect of formal education. In order to conduct the study, a subject (Mathematics) with a specific topic area in the subject (multiplication facts) is chosen. The study adopts a causal-comparative research to investigate the impact of the inclusion of a computer-based video game designed to teach multiplication facts to primary level students. Sample size is 100 students divided into two i.e., A: conventional group and B conventional group aided by video games. The conventional group (A) would be taught multiplication facts (timetables) and skills conventionally. The other group (B) underwent the same lessons but with supplementary activity: a computer-based video game on multiplication which is called Timez-Attack. Analysis of marks accrued from pre-test will be compared to post- test using comparisons of means, t tests, and ANOVA tests to investigate the impact of computer games as an added learning activity. The findings revealed that video games as a supplementary activity to classroom learning brings significant and positive effect on students' retention and mastery of multiplication tables as compared to students who rely only upon formal classroom instructions."

Abstract: "A mobile learning research project was conducted in Trinidad and Tobago to determine if mobile learning can assist high school students in learning mathematics. Several innovative techniques were used in this research to address the problem of high failure rates of mathematics in high schools in the Caribbean. A mobile learning application was developed based on a subset of the high school mathematics curriculum used in the English-speaking Caribbean. Game-based learning, personalization and multiple learning strategies were used in conjunction with mobile learning to assist students in improving their performance in mathematics. Three evaluation studies were conducted with the mobile learning application. During the studies, usage data was captured automatically by the system and this was used to determine the extent to which the students actually used the mobile application. At the end of each study, a questionnaire was used to capture student opinions of the mobile learning application. Questionnaire data is based solely on student responses and there is no guarantee of its accuracy and reliability. This paper focuses on the responses of the students to the questionnaire and seeks to determine if the usage data can increase the reliability of the questionnaire data. It summarizes the behaviour patterns of the students gleaned from the usage logs and compares this to the students' responses to the questionnaire. Generally it was found that the students' responses agreed with the usage data, though there were occasions when the responses diverged."

"A good flash primary maths activity which help students learn how to use the grid method of multiplication."

Abstract: "Students' attitudes toward mathematics and its learning have been subject to numerous studies in the past six decades. These studies treat such attitudes as both desirable learning outcomes and correlates of mathematics achievement. Many Likert-type attitude scales have been devised to measure significant constructs underlying mathematics-related attitudes, such as confidence, anxiety, and utility of mathematics. The psychometric properties of these attitude scales may be culture and age dependent. As part of a research project called Singapore Mathematics Assessment and Pedagogy Project (SMAPP), an effort was made to devise and validate an attitude toward learning mathematics scale that can be used with lower secondary school students in Singapore. This paper explains the use of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses to reduce an initial 57-item questionnaire to one with 24 items that cover these six dimensions: Checking solutions, Confidence, Enjoyment, Use of IT in mathematics learning, Multiple solutions, and Usefulness of mathematics. The data comprise responses from about 890 Secondary 1 (Grade 7) students in 2010, who took the 57-item questionnaire, and another 850 students who took the 24-item questionnaire in 2011. The nature of the final questionnaire is discussed. This effort contributes to the continual effort to devise validated attitude scales that are suitable for different cultures and student groups."

Can your kids do not have to struggle with Math if he or she learns the fundamental concepts of Math? Addition, subtraction, multiplication, percentage and division are about recurring patterns. When your children study to spot the pattern, he or she will learn to love Math.

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.

A great resource for learning times tables. Use on a whiteboard or set as online home/class work to learn times tables. http://ictmagic.wikispaces.com/Maths

Inspired by the work of Magdeline Lampert, interactive problems offer educators a fun tool to help learners think about "mathematical principles" within the familiar context of coinage. We love her idea that playing with combinations and recombinations of denominations promotes engagement with multiplicative thinking, and have produced this as a result.

Shoot some hoops and learn some maths with this lovely maths game for practising addition, subtraction and multiplication at two different levels. http://ictmagic.wikispaces.com/maths

Postings include tips on teaching math facts, and information about two math practice books, Two Plus Two Is Not Five: Easy Methods to Learn Addition and Subtraction and Five Times Five Is Not Ten: Make Multiplication Easy.

CK-12 Foundation's Basic Algebra, Volume 1 Of 2 FlexBook covers the following six chapters:Expressions, Equations, and Functions - covers the relationships among expressions, equations, and functions when variables are present. Also explored is how these ideas can be shown on graphs. Properties of Real Numbers - covers various forms that rational numbers can assume, including fractions, integers, and square roots. Also considered are different operations for manipulating rational numbers. Linear Equations - introduces students to methods of solving simple equations involving variables. Also covered are ratios, scale, and the percent equation. Graphing Linear Equations and Functions - provides students with a more in-depth understanding of equations by introducing coordinate plane graphing concepts such as intercepts and slope. Writing Linear Equations - focuses on writing various forms of equations based upon real-world data and already existing lines. Students will also learn about predicting data using a fitted line. Linear Inequalities and Absolute Value; An Introduction to Probability - covers operations of inequalities, including addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. These principles are then applied to absolute value and probability.

"A research team led by Carnegie Mellon University's Robert Siegler has identified a major source of the gap -- U. S. students' inadequate knowledge of fractions and division. Although fractions and division are taught in elementary school, even many college students have poor knowledge of them. The research team found that fifth graders' understanding of fractions and division predicted high school students' knowledge of algebra and overall math achievement, even after statistically controlling for parents' education and income and for the children's own age, gender, I.Q., reading comprehension, working memory, and knowledge of whole number addition, subtraction and multiplication. Published in Psychological Science, the findings demonstrate an immediate need to improve teaching and learning of fractions and division."

Abstract: "Shoot x Shoot is the first game for EduTurtle. It's a 6th grade Math game that combines topics like "Multiples", "Cartesian Plane", "International and English measurement systems", "Percentages and fractions". Through a pre game test we obtain a score of the students on the subjects then is a game time and before this time we measure again with a similar test the score of the students in order to measure an influence of the game on the students about this subjects. The online platform EduTurlte offers educational games for elementary schools children. In a near future at http://www.eduturtle.com girls and boys may come to play (and at the same time learn and reinforce their knowledge) by keeping track of their progress in games on various topics at different grades. It is also a way to reinforce the lessons learned in the classroom and/or books through games that capture their attention over entertainment. "

From a conference held May 19-20, 2012, includes: "Math Strategies in Digital Storytelling: Effects of Multiple Pedagogical Agents on Learning Single-Digit Addition Strategies", "Connected to Word Problems: Improving Mathematical Problem Solving While Exergaming," "Digital Modeling Artifacts as Geometric Thinking & Learning: Top, Side and Perspective Views to Improve Spatial Abilities," "Credibility of Culturally Situated Design Tools: Mathematics and Black Identity," "The Use of Dynamic Geometry Software for the development of Specialized Subject Matter Knowledge."

A great maths site with PDF worksheets and online activities to help students learn a range of maths topics at every stage of their school career. http://ictmagic.wikispaces.com/Maths

Abstract: "How can smartphones apps enrich the learning of mathematics in vocational education? This article examines how mathematics teaching can be enriched by apps using smartphone sensors such as gyroscope, compass, camera, and touch screen in a gaming context. An iterative and participatory design process involving two classes of carpentry students from different vocational colleges resulted in two highly successful and course-relevant games based on trigonometry. Each game consists of quests and missions whose successful completion unlocks more theoretical multiple-choice exercises for the classroom. The combination of competition to unlock exercises, competition for placing on the high-score list, and physical activity proved very motivating for the students and was also approved by their teachers. In this article we describe our design principles, the overall game architecture and the games themselves. We talk about our experience in implementing our design process and subsequently summarize the pros and cons of the application and the smartphone platform and how the app developed contributes to vocational mathematics teaching"

This multimedia resource includes interactive math activities, print activities, learning strategies, and videos that illustrate how math is used in everyday life. The resource addresses the following mathematics topics: Fractions; Integers; Percentages; Rate/Ratio/Proportion; Square Roots; Exponents; Patterns; Algebra; Linear Equations; Polynomials; Angles; Circles; Surface Area and Volume; Area and Perimeter; Triangles; Pythagoras; Trigonometry; Similarity and Congruence; Transformations; Shape Classification; Data Display and Graphs; Central Tendency and Distribution; and Probability.

A great general maths site with lots of tutorials, activities and games which will help your students at school and at home. http://ictmagic.wikispaces.com/Maths