Author: Geoff
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Open Discussion: Would a PDF annual for math blogging be helpful? Or just a lot of work?
(Editor’s note: I’m going on vacation this week, so I hope to get lots of comments, feedback, pushback, etc. by the time I get back.) I’m a huge fan of the McSweeney’s Annual “Best of American Non-Required Reading” edited by Dave Eggers. As a more-or-less weak reader (in terms of what I actually accomplish) I…
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Resources and slides for my #NTAC12 sessions
Just like I did for April’s PBL and STEM conferences in North Carolina, I’m posting all the slide decks (as they currently exist) for my sessions at the New Tech Annual Conference next week right here. Whether you’re a New Tech teacher or not I hope you find them helpful and/or informative. I also want…
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Today, in improper use of Venn Diagrams
From the Mitt Romney campaign. According to basic set notation, this is presented as A ∩ B, when they really mean the opposite. I’m pretty sure this isn’t the first and won’t be the last improperly used mathematical tool of the 2012 campaign. Let’s be sure to name and shame it when it happens. (Slate’s Dave…
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Red Solo Cup / I Lift You Up / Let’s Find the Volume! / Let’s Find the Volume!
Hat tip to @mathhombre. Artifact The red Solo cup, apparently. Guiding Questions What are those little markings between 12 oz and “Top Me Off, Bro”? Can you use proportions to find it? Similar polygons? Volume? Help me out here. Can I have a ruler? Can I use Geogebra to diagram this? Wait, can’t I just…
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“Isn’t Problem Based Learning easier than Project Based Learning?” and 10 other myths about PrBL. (“Real or not real”)
About a year ago, I started advocating and pushing towards a Problem Based approach in mathematics, as opposed to a solely Project Based approach, which many/most of my peers currently employ. But before we go any further, let’s better parse the differences between Project- (PBL) and Problem-Based Learning (PrBL). I realize that different people define and…
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Thought Experiment: I bet you could teach an entire math course with this one graph.
Or at least a huge chunk of an Algebra, Stats, and/or Pre-Cal course.
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Resources for PBL and Scaling STEM Conferences
I’ll be presenting a few sessions at the PBL and Scaling STEM conference in North Carolina next week. Below are the slide decks I’ll be using along with some resources I’ll be pointing to throughout the sessions. Even if you aren’t going to be there, feel free to peruse the links and resources and send…
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Wait, what constitutes Project Based Learning in Math?; the Non-Negotiables of Math PBL.
Let me preface this post by saying I am an unabashed fan of Jo Boaler. I’ve recommended (and even given as gifts) her book What’s Math Got To Do With It?. Let me also state that I work for (and love) the New Tech Network, a model of education that employs Project Based Learning. With those…
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Underground parking spots cost $30000-$50000 to build in D.C. This smells like a systems problem.
Artifact The Washington City Paper has a (rather lengthy) post on parking in D.C. Fair warning: it’s pretty wonky with zoning rules, ordinances, etc. However, the numbers caught my eye: … An underground parking spot costs between $30,000 and $50,000 to build, and residents pay for it one way or another. … “Let’s say it’s…
emergent math 