Math for the net generation
The video feels a little cheesy, but it is an advertisement for a learning program and pre-packaged software and manipulatives. After seeing really poor quality software being shoved down district throats, I sometimes feel this mild revulsion to some education software companies.
Still, it makes some good points about engaging students in math using media that they are familiar with. Also I like the example of using the “Smartboard” where students circled the common factors.
The scene about the “fractions” actually sent me into a flashback mode. The Reggae fraction song was pretty funny too.
Click on the link to view the video in another window:
http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=f650dbf1b2532aa11f64
Making factors make sense with visuals
Factors and factoring are extremely important concepts to understanding math. I found a pretty cool game/applet on the Shodor.org site that allows students to use virtual manipulatives to explore factors.
The applet/game is called Factorize. Check it out.
You’re given a number and asked to illustrate the factors by selecting the appropriate dimensions on a grid. After you select a dimension (area of squares), you press the “Enter” button.
I have to admit that when you’re working with larger numbers the grid squares become a little difficult to highlight with the mouse, but I think this is a great visual activity for students. It also helps demonstrate the Commutative property, you simply have to de-select, the “Do Not Show Commutative Property” button.
Book Review: Math Doesn’t Suck
I first heard about Danica McKellar’s book in an NPR Podcast interview with her. I was very impressed and moved by Ms. McKellar’s dedication to promoting math education for young women. Too bad I didn’t have such a role model when I was a child.
I like this book.
There are a few flowery and girly things in the book that I have a little difficulty with, but I believe that it really does capture the main math concepts needed by students before they dive into Algebra: factors, primes, rational numbers/fractions, decimal representation of fractions, word problems, and solving for variables. More, importantly she tackles problems and examples of these concepts from subjects that girls can relate to. Some how, she successfully ties in beading, pizza, shoe shopping, espresso, the schoolgirl’s crush, etc. into the examples and problem sets in the book. More importantly, the book doesn’t talk down to girls.
Also, throughout the book Danica features the stories of several successful women who used math in their careers. I think these sections of the book are key for young women. This may date me, but I was told by a teacher that I didn’t need to know math because “I was a girl.” Infuriating as this was, I had to realize that this woman was still stuck in the Dark Ages. Ms. McKellar aptly states in her book, “… we have to be careful that we don’t fall victim to other people’s low expectations.” Kudos to Ms. McKellar for developing a wonderful book that reaches out to young women who are just starting to engage in the wonderfully empowering subject of Math.
P.S. I think the examples throughout this book can be used by Middle School teachers in addition to any examples they come up with in class.
You can read more about Danica McKellar and her book at her website: http://www.danicamckellar.com/
Math Wikis and engaging this generation of students
I’ve been using wikis for different projects lately. If you’re not familiar with how wikis are used you can view the quick video below from common craft that explains how wikis work.
A few months ago, I ran across an excellent wiki developed by a chemistry teacher: Chemistry with Mr. Olson
Chemistry with Mr. Olson has a periodic table on it’s home page. If you click on the elements in the table the links lead you do a profile page on that element. I image that each element was assigned to a student or group of students who then shared properties and descriptions of that element.
Click on the image to view the page on NA/Sodium on the Chemistry with Mr. Olson wiki
I can imagine a similar wiki being developed by a math class as they examine the different types of numbers. Or perhaps they could develop a wiki where students illustrate and explain how to complete some operations such as:
- Order of Operations
- Adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing rational numbers
- Demonstrating operations on positive and negative numbers
For students and teachers who feel comfortable, they can actually film themselves explaining the concepts using manipulative, diagrams and whiteboards. They can post their filmed explanations right on the wiki. I’ve been reading a great deal about working with students today (also known as Milennials and Net Generation students). It seems that there is a growing argument that working effectively with these students requires a different approach than just lecturing and using workbooks. Engaging students in learning can take place when you have them create content or projects. A wiki would make a nice team project for a class.
Where to get good math images
You don’t have to get all fancy and techno-savvy to have decent graphics on your blog. It’s all about be resourceful and being open to learning a few simple technological tools.
I have to confess. I use images I find on the web all the time. I link to the sources/pages where these images are housed and give full credit. I figure that this is a personal blog and as long as I’m giving credit where credit is do, I can use and re-use content I find on the web. Also, If I’m using a game or manipulative I take a screenshot (Prnt Scrn on PC or command+function+shift+3 on a Mac) and then cut out or crop the graphic I want in a photo or graphic editing program. Most PC’s have a program installed called “Paint.” It’s usually located in your “Accessories” folder. There are also a number of freeware graphics programs available online. But the program should be able to save any graphic image as a commonly used graphic file (such as a jpeg or gif).
The picture of the Pascal’s Triangle game below was taken by doing a screenshot of my desktop with the game open. I pasted the entire desktop image in MS Paint and then cut out only the portion I wanted to share. I save the image as a jpeg and then uploaded to my blog.
Click on the image to view the actual game on the Shodor.org site.
Shodor Site Rules!
I’ve been reviewing the Shodor site and it’s a virtual treasure trove of manipulatives and pretty cool lesson plans.
- Math lesson plans: http://www.shodor.org/interactivate/lessons/
- Fun Activities: http://www.shodor.org/interactivate/activities/
If you go to http://www.shodor.org/curriculum/subject.php and select Mathematics you’ll find all the links to externally based interactive tools and lesson plans. By the way, there are links to materials on all disciplines in this site.
