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"Wolfram talks about how computers should be used to advance the understanding of math the way it's really used in the real world. Kalman talks about using computers to deliver traditional math instruction and gold stars. Kalman reinforces the "teaching" paradigm; Wolfram blows it up and insists we look critically at what's being taught. Both these talks are about "improving education with technology" - but they couldn't be further apart in world view. But the TED audience applauds them both. This is why conversations about reforming education are difficult."

A great post and comments on two diverse approaches to the use of computers in maths education. Contrary or Complimentary?

What I am writing to others in my school... I am again teaching statistics and would like my students to engage with real data collection and analysis. The Australian Bureau of Statistics runs the Census at School project that allows students to engage with real statistics about themselves and other Australian school students of their own age. I am seeking permission - ongoing permission- for participation in this project to be at the core of our statistics education program for middle school here at Carey Baptist College. You will find the necessary documentation required for us to go ahead.

"Welcome to Inside Mathematics, a professional resource for educators passionate about improving students' mathematics learning and performance. This site features classroom examples of innovative teaching methods and insights into student learning, tools for mathematics instruction that teachers can use immediately, and video tours of the ideas and materials on the site. We are glad you're here and look forward to learning with you! News - Inside Mathematics is aligning its resources with the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics."

"Inside Mathematics provides a resource for educators around the world who struggle to provide the best mathematics instruction they can for their students. Too often, teachers who excel at reaching students have few ways of sharing these strong practices with others - and teachers who struggle, struggle alone. Our classroom doors have remained closed too often and for too long. Inside Mathematics opens those doors: to tested demonstration lessons presented to children and groups of observing teachers; to guided tours of reflective mathematics practice, identifying what makes teaching, learning, and improving instruction in mathematics a difficult enterprise and providing resources for teachers to improve their practice; to mathematics teaching and learning tools and resources to support classroom teachers', math coaches', and administrators' daily practices; and to a professional learning community in which you are invited to open your own classroom door and engage in conversation about your own mathematics teaching and learning. This initiative grew out of the Noyce Foundation's Silicon Valley Mathematics Initiative. SVMI is based on high performance expectations, ongoing professional development, examining student work, and improved math instruction. The initiative includes a formative and summative performance assessment system, pedagogical content coaching, and leadership training and networks. Coaches in SVMI learn strategies of re-engagement with students around mathematics assessments, and demonstration lessons on re-engagement are featured here."

A new online resource will help teachers identify areas they may choose to focus on as they become familiar with the Australian Curriculum for English, mathematics, science and history. This advisory support resource provides an overview of each Australian Curriculum area and makes clear the key differences between the K-10 Syllabus and the content (descriptions) of the new curriculum.

How did Britain's worst-performing school become one of the best? Rebecca Fowler pays a visit

"In a digital world where we can easily "find an app for that" to help solve many problems, rarely do teachers have a one stop shopping place for all their classroom digital needs. There are many individual tools that can aid a teacher in retrieving student's digital work, polling/quizzing students or assigning work, but each of these tools usually requires a separate account. However, there is one, free, Web 2.0 app that brings everything together that you need for your classroom, including a social learning environment. The app that does all of this is called Edmodo. Here are just a few features that make Edmodo so great for teachers and students:"

Get outside and explore geometry (and other math) all around you. A math trail is a walk with various stops where you look at math in the world around you, and ask questions about it.

learned about this game at a Pippin's math conference which I blogged about here. It's sad that that was almost a year ago and I'm just now using it. You can use a regular review worksheet or my personal favorite, a Powerpoint of review problems.

Math for Grownups readers love Math at Work Monday. And here are the top 10 interviews of the year.

In some sense, all of maths should come under the label "logic", but mathematical logic has shown that mathematics isn't entirely logical. Makes sense? If not, then this teacher package may help.

Raymond Smullyan, a Mathematician, Philosopher and author of several outstanding books of logical puzzles, tells, in one of his books, a revealing story. A friend invited him for dinner. He told Smullyan that his teenage son was crazy about Smullyan's boo

I call it Make it Right but I'm sure it goes by other names. The instructions are simple. After selecting the correct answer the students need to rewrite the question so that the other choices now become correct.