MATH TOOLS NEWSLETTER - AUGUST 4, 2007 - No. 54 ***Graduate Programs in Mathematics Learning and Teaching http://www.drexel.com/online-degrees/education-degrees/ms-mlt/index.aspx The Math Forum and Drexel University School of Education are pleased to announce an online master's degree program in Mathematics Learning and Teaching. The program capitalizes on the more than ten years of experience that the Math Forum has in bringing together tens of thousands of students, teachers, educators, and mathematics enthusiasts to do mathematics, solve problems, and learn from each other. Key aspects of the program include: * A focus on a problem-based, student-centered, and technology-enhanced instructional program and the associated challenges of implementing such a program * Engaging in professional practices concerning mathematics, instructional design, and the study of student learning * Seamless integration of teacher education and classroom implementation * Developing relationships and communities focused on improving mathematics learning and teaching \|/ ***FREE ONLINE OPPORTUNITY FOR TEACHERS OF GRADES 5-9 Using Technology and Problem Solving to Build Algebraic Reasoning http://mathforum.org/nsdl_mathtech/online/ Teachers explore how technology can help students build algebraic reasoning skills as they model and solve contextualized problems using a variety of representations, including graphs, tables, equations, and words. Workshop 6 applications will close Monday, August 6. \|/ As you browse the catalog, please take a moment to rate a resource, comment on it, review it -- or start a new discussion! ***FEATURED DISCUSSION Best Tools to create geometric figures http://mathforum.org/mathtools/discuss.html?&do=m&thread=g__hp_tool__g-4 JimS explains, "I'm teaching geometry for the first time in a number of years and would like to find an easy-to-use software tool to create common geometric figures with appropriate labeling and common geometric markings." ***FEATURED TOOL Tool: Poker Experiment The University of Alabama in Huntsville http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/32792/ Java applet that simulates poker hands (runs from Mozilla Firefox). Reports experimental and theoretical probabilities on nine different types of hands (5-card). ***FEATURED TOOL Tool: The concept of locus - Math Open Reference John Page http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/32615/ A web page and interactive applet that illustrate the concept of locus. The applet shows a model of the plane populated with "all" the possible points on the plane. Choosing to highlight those that are all a given distance from a given point, for example, results in a circle. The user can drag the point and change the distance, showing the circle moving and changing size. ***FEATURED TOOL Tool: Congruent Triangles - Math Open Reference John Page http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/32751/ An interactive applet and associated web page that demonstrate the concept of congruent triangles. Applets show that triangles are congruent if they are the same, rotated, or reflected. In each case, the user can drag one triangle and see how another triangle changes to remain congruent to it. ***FEATURED TOOL Tool: Investigation of the Power Spectral Density of Duffing's Equation by Equivalent Linearization Method Co Hong Tran http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/32686/ This Maple worksheet considers the non-linear random vibration model demonstrated by Duffing's differential equation. The stationary random process f(t) is satisfied < f(t) > = 0 with the spectral density function, Sf(w). To find the solution S x (w) of (*), it uses the equivalent linearization method. Free registration required. CHECK OUT THE MATH TOOLS SITE: Math Tools http://mathforum.org/mathtools/ Register http://mathforum.org/mathtools/register.html 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/ \`. .--------------.___________) \ |//////////////|___________[ ] `--------------' ) ( '-' The Math Forum @ Drexel -- 4 August 2007