MATH TOOLS NEWSLETTER - JUNE 2, 2007 - No. 52 ***OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 9-10 The MathMentor http://mathforum.org/cooke/ The Math Forum @ Drexel is offering the MathMentor, an online mentoring program that is designed to expand students' career aspirations and help them to develop interest in math, science and technology. Applications are currently being accepted. ***OPPORTUNITY FOR TEACHERS OF GRADES 3-5 Free Online Professional Development Workshops Tools for Building Math Concepts http://mathforum.org/toolsandconcepts/ This workshop sponsored by Microsoft Corporation introduces the use of computers to develop fundamental concepts of multiplication, fractions, division and area through the process of generating data and examining patterns. ***OPPORTUNITY FOR TEACHERS OF GRADES 5-9 Free Online Professional Development Workshops 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 as they model and solve contextualized problems using a variety of representations, including graphs, tables, equations, and words. \|/ 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 SmartBoard http://mathforum.org/mathtools/discuss.html?&do=m&thread=_____round-124 Dan Hanson asks, "If anyone has used a Smart Board I'd be grateful for any advice or helpful URL's they could offer. I'm also interested in finding a way to emulate the TI-83+ on a PC/SmartBoard." ***FEATURED DISCUSSION Mathematica in Secondary Education http://mathforum.org/mathtools/discuss.html?&do=m&thread=__hff___g-1 Craig states, "Mathematica is a very powerful, and somewhat expensive, tool for doing great exploratory mathematics and science, and for solving a variety of tough problems. What if the cost weren't a factor? What if it could be ubiquitous, almost (but not quite) like the graphing calculators? How would having such a powerful tool change how and/or what math is taught? What would you like to do with such a tool?" ***FEATURED TOOL Making Change Colleen King http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/31363/ Students are given the sale price and the amount of money paid by a customer. They must calculate the amount of change due, then click and drag the fewest number of coins and bills to make change. ***FEATURED TOOL Polar Function Grapher Amir Rashedi http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/31331/ Graph functions in polar coordinate system. Type in a function and press Draw Graph. Particularly useful tool for analytic geometry. Rotate axis, change scale, and translate by using mouse or by entering data. ***FEATURED TOOL Co-ordinate Game Birmingham Grid for Learning http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/31638/ Eight games to use to practice identifying the coordinates of a given point. ***FEATURED TOOL Equivalent Fractions Wayne Allen Bateman http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/31681/ As the user drags one of the fractions to the ring, an animated visual display appears. If the fraction is equivalent, the display remains. If it is not, it disappears into the center. Click the "reset" button in the lower left corner of the activity to get a different set of fractions. ***FEATURED TOOL Times tables BBC: Skillwise http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/31672/ The Times Table module can be used as a starting point for learning a particular table; a reinforcement of number patterns and tables already covered; and practicing knowledge of tables. Linked resources include a factsheet, game, quiz, and worksheet. ***FEATURED TOOL GeoGebra Markus Hohenwarter http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/31633/ GeoGebra lets you build dynamic constructions from the usual geometric objects -- points, vectors, segments, lines, and conic sections -- as well as directly from equations and coordinates. This free dynamic software application displays constructions in two windows: one that reveals the algebraic expression, and one that shows the corresponding geometric objects. GeoGebra handles variables for numbers, vectors, and points; finds derivatives and integrals of functions; and offers commands like Root and Extremum. ***FEATURED TOOL LineUp with Math NASA: Ames Research Center http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/31617/ LineUp with Math(TM) consists of six Problem Sets. Each enables students to explore and apply decision-making and proportional reasoning skills to resolve distance-rate-time conflicts in realistic air traffic control problems. ***FEATURED TOOL Simplesim Kare Jonsson http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/31185/ Simplesim is suited for modelling of non-analytic relations in systems which are causal in the sense that different courses of events interact in a way that is difficult to see and understand. Simplesim has been developed to be a general simulation and is not limited to a specific application area. 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 -- 2 June 2007