Math Links

Published March 2013. "The Golden Ticket provides a nontechnical introduction to P-NP, its rich history, and its algorithmic implications for everything we do with computers and beyond. In this informative and entertaining book, Lance Fortnow traces how the problem arose during the Cold War on both sides of the Iron Curtain, and gives examples of the problem from a variety of disciplines, including economics, physics, and biology. He explores problems that capture the full difficulty of the P-NP dilemma, from discovering the shortest route through all the rides at Disney World to finding large groups of friends on Facebook. But difficulty also has its advantages. Hard problems allow us to safely conduct electronic commerce and maintain privacy in our online lives. The Golden Ticket explores what we truly can and cannot achieve computationally, describing the benefits and unexpected challenges of this compelling problem."

Criticism of research into why students have trouble with factions and experience boredom

Abstract: "n this study we explored the impact of performing mathematical tasks presented in the context of an "adventure challenge" or a "mathematical challenge" in a videogame. This videogame - "Matemáquina do Tempo" - is being developed to facilitate learning of mathematical skills like counting, grouping, and relating numbers. The videogame consists in various movement control tasks with dynamic (e.g., running) and static (e.g., pointing) interactions. Our goal was to test the impact of the integration of a direct mathematical task versus an indirect mathematical task. A group of 18 five year-old children performed the game in two conditions: a) adventure challenge , which implied movements such as running or climbing trees to perform mathematical tasks of counting and grouping; and b) mathematical challenge , which included swimming after selecting the correct path through counting, followed by a direct mathematical task of pointing to organize numbers in a line. Our assumptions were evaluated according to questionnaires and video analysis of the children playing the game. Results confirmed our hypothesis, showing that players performing the mathematical challenge generally considered that they were learning with the game, and most agreeing that the game was fun. Participants in the adventure challenge condition on the other hand, showed a tendency to evaluate the game as very amusing and were more distributed in the learning evaluation. In conclusion, we suggest that the inclusion of direct mathematical tasks in the videogame might lead to increased perception of learning, although they also seem to result in lower amusement ratings."

Originally posted in 2010 and reconsidered from the perspective of recent international study on science aptitude of boys and girls, makes the point that, minus exceptional aptitude, girls and boys have equal potential and demonstrate equivalent success in math

"Move the World, a workshop first tried out at Gymnasium Delbrück (a high school) that leveraged math and virtual worlds to increase high school juniors' interest in computer science."

by dr. sarah-marie belcastro, "You might wonder why one would want to knit mathematical objects. One reason is that the finished objects make good teaching aids; a knitted object is flexible and can be physically manipulated, unlike beautiful and mathematically perfect computer graphics. And the process itself offers insights: In creating an object anew, not following someone else's pattern, there is deep understanding to be gained. To craft a physical instantiation of an abstraction, one must understand the abstraction's structure well enough to decide which properties to highlight. Such decisions are a crucial part of the design process, but for the specifics to make sense, we must first consider knitting geometrically."

"Video games that provide good mathematics learning should look to the piano as a model"

"As Markov chains have become commonplace tools, the story of their origin has largely faded from memory. The story is worth retelling. It features an unusual conjunction of mathematics and literature, as well as a bit of politics and even theology."

"The focus of this digitally mediated learning activity centers on the mathematics department in the Easton and Redding (ER9) school district in Connecticut. Currently, ER9 teachers have technology in the classroom, but many teachers have expressed uncertainty about how to implement this technology in their classrooms. Based on the foundations of the constructivist learning theory, math teachers will learn how technology fits into the student learning cycle. Interested teachers will form a community of practice (CoP) to learn about and apply engaging technology in the classroom. Some technologies discussed include game-based learning, mobile/Web 2.0 apps such as Prezi, Animation and Edmodo. As a result of this technology CoP, teachers will learn to implement at least one new technology into their classroom and engage in communication between CoP members using MOODLE. "

"The number of unfilled positions has been halved since the study's authors last explored the topic in 2006, but institutions surveyed during the 2011-12 academic year still reported they were unable to fill about one-quarter of their job openings. The study will appear in the April 2013 edition of the American Mathematical Society publication Notices."

Press release announcing new math learning product, accessible in the Apps store, and successful funding initiative

"In Math on Trial, mathematicians Leila Schneps and Coralie Colmez tell the story of ten criminal trials in which mathematical arguments were used-and disastrously misused-as evidence. Using a wide range of examples, from the Dreyfus Affair to the Amanda Knox murder trial, they show how the improper application of mathematical concepts can mean the difference between walking free and life in prison. A colorful narrative of mathematical abuse featuring such characters as Charles Ponzi, Alfred Dreyfus, and Oliver Wendell Holmes, Math on Trial shows that legal expertise isn't always enough to prove a person innocent."

"Grab videos, pictures, text paragraphs from any source and turn them into short movies." Educational mashup tool that could be useful for math topics

Part of a series considering options for college-bound students, this column emphasizes the importance of quantitative skills across the curriculum and workforce.

Abstract:"This paper discusses the results of a pilot st udy that explored how prospective secondary school teachers are shaped by learni ng experiences during their undergraduate mathematics education. The collabora tive study, which was conducted by a mathematician and a mathematics educator, dr ew from the experiences of prospective teachers in a non-traditional undergraduate ma thematics program that makes extensive use of technology. Analysis of data collect ed from detailed questionnaires, journals, and focus group discussions strongly suggests that designing, implementing, and testing Learning Objects promotes prospective teache rs' learning of the mathematics needed for teaching. Furthermore, the analysis shows t hat prospective teachers' experiences of ownership, engagement, and pride are key to positive learning experiences. "

A collection of resources, noting that the theme this year is mathematics of sustainability

Abstract: This research paper has been designed to develop an online tutoring system for pre - K to middle school Math students. The research methodology applied in this study has used both qualitative and quantitative research methods in terms of external and internal Web or software metrics to obtain the usable parameters to design an effective tutoring system to learn Math. Today online hypermedia applications are increasingly becoming more feature rich, important and also the most popular means for communication among school students for e - learning. This paper is divided into four parts: part 'I' presents the introduction of Kumon based after school education; part 'II' describes the research proposal to identify measures, model, and methodology to develop the Web - based online learning system for Pre - K to middle school math students ; part 'III' elaborates the role of using static analysis, dynamic, and comparative analysis that can be applied to check the characteristics and authenticity of data obtained for each student separately; and finally part 'IV' investigates the behaviour of online tutoring system to find the failure points and to calculate reliability aspects using Web page trace algorithms and We b page replacement policies. In this paper, an attempt has been made to systematically explain the state of the art and their practices to design, analyze, and test the functionality of online learning systems for pre - K to middle school Math students

Description of student learning success with ST Math, stripping verbalization from math teaching and working with visualization and images

Benoit Mandelbrot's memoir, written prior to his death in 2010 and recently published.