Equations and word problems

Scheduled for December, Predictive Interface and Units, Social Networks and Data Science, and Data Manipulation and Visualization

"A consortium of education organizations will be developing an online repository of classroom videos to help new teachers learn from master instructors how to teach math and science topics in third through sixth grades. The video repository is part of a project funded by a $3 million grant from the United States Department of Education and includes participants from Stanford University and the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE), as well as the Teacher Performance Assessment Consortium (TPAC), which AACTE helps to operate."

"PBS LearningMedia is a free digital media resource designed to support curriculum-based teaching and learning from for Pre-K through 12th grade. The service offers video clips, audio recordings, photographs, interactive games, primary source documents, and more. For access to PBS LearningMedia's library, register today - it's free!"

Review of free site for math educators which includes time-saving features aiding in assignment and student help, also adhering to Common Core standards.

From the abstract: "this study investigated how the perspectives of the non-computer science educators changed after learning game-programming and how it could be fitted into the K-12 curriculum. Fourteen non-computer science educators and/or administrators in the K - 16 educational systems who made up a cohort at Sam Houston State University, Master of Education/Instructional Technology Program participated in this study. The participants were required to learn two free Web 2.0 game-programming applications and reflect on an article related to reviving interest in math and science as part of their program. Qualitative data consisted of online reflections, and peer-review processes through Facebook. A quantitative component was added to the analysis. The findings indicated that: (a) the perspectives of the participants changed from negative to positive as they reflected on their own game-programming learning experiences; (b) participants came to understand how game programming could build up students' logical concepts and critical thinking skills improving performances in math, science, and other subjects; and (c) due to the benefits of logical concepts and critical thinking skills game programming could have immense benefits if built into the K-12 curriculum."

"'The Fractalist,' Benoit B. Mandelbrot's Math Memoir"

"Students learn mathematic skills and concepts best when there is a learning atmosphere of fun and connection. Gisele Glosser at Math Goodies knows this and has developed Math Mania Competition so you can coach your class to victory in the worldwide Math Mania Competition!"

"Nasa's Voyager spacecraft have enthralled everyone with their exploits on the edge of the Solar System, but their launch in 1977 was only possible because of some clever maths and the persistence of a PhD student who worked out how to slingshot probes into deep space".

"Most of these books are beginner level books, simply introducing the concept and terminology. However, there are a few at the end that are really great, and begin to introduce equivalent fractions and even discuss the numerator and denominator."

Among the awardees, "The Monterey Institute of Technology and Education for NROC Developmental Math, a program to help financially disadvantaged students pass developmental math courses before starting college math courses;"

Jo Boaler's research on how children learn math is called into question and her response ""When Academic Disagreement Becomes Harassment and Persecution" is discussed in this article, which also features support from her colleagues and a video explaining her ideas.

"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."

Discussion of Alleyoop, Pearson Edcuation's app to help high school students reach college competence in math and science

Maria Chudnovsky, mathematician, is one of 23 MacArthur Fellowship recipients in 2012. She is an associate professor in the department of industrial engineering and operations research at Columbia University and specializes in graph theory. With colleagues she successfully solved the "Srong Perfect Graph Theorem" which was proposed in the 1960s, and her research is potentially "deepening the connections between graph theory and other major branches of mathematics, such as linear programming, geometry, and complexity theory." A video featuring the awardee can be viewed on the web site.

Math "Hackathon"

An exhibit of Benoit Mandelbrot's fractal images on display at Bard Graduate Center in New York City

A review of Paul Lockhart's new book with a focus on mathematical reasoning and geometry, with a video of the author.

An online college math course under development including the following topics (so far): Sets Math Foundations Linear Equations Solving and Graphing Inequalities Graphing and Factoring Quadratic Equations Properties of Exponents Logarithms and Exponential Equations