Math Links

This list of "myths" written with a strong political bias. Take it in with a grain of salt. I like that they include references and links for why they believe what they do. This article would be good fodder for discussion.

I keep writing, in bits and pieces, about the middle way between the two approaches. For example, there should be enough discovery for every kid to firmly believe they could derive anything, if needed. This "just enough" will vary from student to student, too. In "The Glass Bead Game" Joseph took years to trace one short (highly abstract) game transcript to its very roots. He wanted to see for himself if the game was real. He did not do it for every game, though. The idea of "flow channels" between two opposite bad states comes to mind: http://www.secondlanguagewriting.com/explorations/elements/flow.jpg

Factorizing applet

Great resource for developing a protocol for looking at student work with your PLC, staff, department. Offers not only protocols, but strategies for introducing the idea to your group, supporting the activity long-term to meet the needs of your staff/PLC. 

GASARCH discusses use of math concepts in the popular press with several examples. Are they used correctly?

A collaboration among Harvard's Program on Education Policy and Governance & Education Next, the Taubman Center for State and Local Government, and Harvard Kennedy School . "To see how well the U.S. as a whole, each state, and certain urban districts do at producing high-achieving math students, the percentage of U.S. public and private school students in the high-school graduating Class of 2009 who were highly accomplished in mathematics in each of the 50 states and in 10 urban districts is compared to the percentages of similarly high achievers in 56 other countries." High-achieving students in the U.S. were outperformed by high achievers from other countries.

video of a lecture at MIT given by professor and entrepreneur James Simons, who taught math at Stony Brook, founded an investment business, and now runs the Simons Foundation which "supports basic math and physics as well as autism research."

if a student can't solve the problem and finds a resource that takes her through the proof step by step?

Online Communities of Enquiry in Mathematics Education. A free article in a conversational style with practical tips for online communications and learning. Colin McAllister and Rebecca Hanson ask: What is it like to take part in online discussions? How do moderators and contributors create active and successful conversations? How is the technology employed in the management of discussion forums evolving? What could be achieved through discussion forums in the future?

Influence of math and numbers and counting on musical composition, performance and expression

"MathX is a mathematical game where the player is given 4 single digit numbers (0-9). The player must apply the basic operators (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division) to each of these numbers, using all the numbers once only, to get to the answer 24."

Describes Motion Math, an iPad game, shown in a study to improve 5th graders' facility with fractions

Review of Conway's Mathematical Connections, written for undergraduate mathematics courses, with the aim that instructors help students find connections across branches of math. Two similar books for undergraduates, recently published, are mentioned as well.