MATH TOOLS NEWSLETTER - May 7, 2005 - No. 26

  Key Curriculum Press is now offering online courses for
  learning how to use The Geometer's Sketchpad (GSP) to
  investigate and demonstrate mathematics concepts. Register
  for one of the summer sessions that will start on June 13:

             http://www.keypress.com/pdc/gsponline/

  The Math Tools Technology Problem of the Week (tPoW)
  "Types of Triangles" demonstrates one way to teach and
  learn with GSP:

                   http://mathforum.org/tpow/

  Technology problems (tPoWs) are modeled on the Math Forum's
  Problems of the Week, with the additional feature that the
  problems take advantage of an interactive mathematics tool.
  After students submit their solutions, they have the
  opportunity to view hints and answer checks to help them
  think more about the problem and revise their work.

  ***FEATURED TPOW
  Technology PoW: Squares in a Square
  http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tpow/18047/
  If you have a checkerboard that is 50x50 with small squares
  inside it, how many squares will there be all together?
  Students use a Java applet from the Freudenthal Institute to
  think about the question. Using a spreadsheet to find the
  total number of squares is encouraged.

  ***FEATURED TPOW
  Technology PoW: Miranda and the Rookie
  http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tpow/18197/
  Use a spreadsheet to compare salaries of the star basketball
  player and the rookie.

  ***FEATURED DISCUSSION
  How technology can enhance math learning
  http://mathforum.org/mathtools/discuss.html?&do=m&thread=_____g-62
  Cynthia writes, "I'd like to hear about how technology
  SUPPORTS learning in your class."

  ***FEATURED DISCUSSION
  Is a rhombus a kite?
  http://mathforum.org/mathtools/discuss.html?&do=m&thread=g_____g-9
  Susan asks, "Is a rhombus a kite? Is a square a kite? Any
  ideas? Has it changed over the years, or is it just me?"

  ***FEATURED DISCUSSION
  Fraction Track Revisited
  http://mathforum.org/mathtools/discuss.html?&do=m&thread=___disc_986_g-2
  Ihor reports, "I'm working on a fractions project with 6th
  grade teachers and students. I tried the Fraction Track game
  and found it was too difficult/confusing for many of the
  students."

  ***FEATURED DISCUSSION
  What is a binomial?
  http://mathforum.org/mathtools/discuss.html?&do=m&thread=a___lesson__g-1
  Eric Goolish notes, "Recently, I had a 60 minute discussion
  with fellow high school teachers about what is a binomial?"

  ***FEATURED TOOL
  Tool: Jude e-Clock
  Nathan Myers
  http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/17894/
  Virtual manipulative for teaching various concepts in
  telling time. Features of this multi-faceted tool include the
  ability to change the clock's face (two different primary faces,
  Roman numerals, 12-3-6-9, and graduated markings only), display
  of time in digital format, display of time in word format
  ("quarter past three", "27 minutes until eight", etc.), as well
  as the ability to practice concepts of elapsed time by setting a
  "start time" clock and an "end time" clock. Buttons and hands on
  clocks are color-coded to help support new or young learners.

  ***FEATURED TOOL
  Tool: Areas of Regular Polygons and Circles
  Key Curriculum Press
  http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/17836/
  Students manipulate the number of sides in a regular polygon,
  develop a formula relating the area and perimeter of the
  polygon, and use their result to develop a formula relating the
  circumference and area of a circle. The link to the tool itself
  is to a zip file that contains both the sketch and a pdf file of
  the corresponding activity.

  The combined sketch and pdf activity file are also available
  in .sit format. This is a free sample activity from "Exploring
  Geometry with the Geometer's Sketchpad."

  ***FEATURED TOOL
  Tool: Random Triangles for Discovering Geometry
  Paul Myers
  http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/18063/
  Paul Myers created this demonstration as he was designing a
  Fathom project for Discovering Geometry. It shows when a
  triangle can be formed from the pieces after two random cuts
  are made in a 20-centimeter segment.

                   CHECK OUT THE MATH TOOLS SITE:

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       Discussions  http://mathforum.org/mathtools/discuss.html
     Research Area  http://mathforum.org/mathtools/research/
   Developers Area  http://mathforum.org/mathtools/developers/
Newsletter Archive  http://mathforum.org/mathtools/newsletter/

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              The Math Forum @ Drexel -- 7 May 2005