MATH TOOLS NEWSLETTER - APRIL 12, 2009 - No. 74 ***DR. CONSTANTINE PAPADAKIS, 1946-2009 http://drexel.edu/papadakis/ It is with great sadness that we report the recent death of Drexel University President Dr. Constantine "Taki" Papadakis. His loss will be deeply felt across the University community. Dr. Papadakis was the primary reason the Math Forum found a home at Drexel in 2001, and had been a strong supporter of the Forum ever since. ***ONLINE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS (free) For teachers of students in grades 5-9, we offer online workshops: Technology and Algebraic Reasoning http://mathforum.org/nsdl_mathtech/online/ Tools for Thinking about Probability http://mathforum.org/nsdl_mathtech/online/prob.html Applications close Monday, April 13 at 5:00 PM EDT for the sessions scheduled to begin April 20. The $100 workshop fee is currently covered by a grant from the National Science Foundation. For a fee of $25 to cover administrative costs, 1.5 Continuing Education Units (15 contact hours) can be provided. ***MATH FORUM RECEPTION AT NCTM http://mathforum.org/nsdl_mathtech/april23.html One of the best parts about participating in a program at the Math Forum is getting to know and build relationships with fun, supportive, interesting colleagues. We are always looking for ways to help people connect. There's a good opportunity coming up around the NCSM/NCTM conferences in Washington, DC. We are hosting a reception for anyone who has participated in an online NSDL workshop or who would like to meet teachers who have been involved: Thursday, April 23, 5:30-7:30 PM Grand Hyatt, Lagoon Level Penn Quarter A + B Feel free to join us for all or part of the time! The reception will enable us to reconnect, meet other innovative professionals, enjoy some food and drink, and learn about other online professional community programs. ***FEATURED DISCUSSION SURVEY: What Makes a Good Math Teacher? http://mathforum.org/mathtools/discuss.html?&do=m&thread=_____g-150 JDempsey asks, "I am trying to establish a statistics program in our High School. The data will be used in a research article that I hope will generate more interest in the subject. Please have students in your class visit the link below and answer this simple survey on 'What Makes a Good Math Teacher.' The survey is only 15 items and takes about 10 minutes or less." ***FEATURED DISCUSSION Best Desktop Publisher for Geometer's Sketchpad Files http://mathforum.org/mathtools/discuss.html?&do=r&msg=78727 Cuts adds to an ongoing discussion, "I have the same problem combining multiple Word and GSP files into a single PDF file for my dissertation. I wonder what worked best for you?" ***FEATURED DISCUSSION multiplication tables crossword puzzles http://mathforum.org/mathtools/discuss.html?&do=m&thread=m2__h_support__g-1 DanielAjoy explains, "I want to develop and publish online a booklet with many math crossword puzzles....I would like to know of suggestions for improvements to these crosswords puzzles...." ***FEATURED TOOL Tool: Bowling http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/78147/ Michael Backus Students learn to calculate their bowling score. ***FEATURED TOOL Tool: Cryptography http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/78149/ Michael Backus Students encode and decode a secret message using matrices. ***FEATURED TOOL Tool: Connection Speed http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/78148/ Michael Backus Students test the speed of their Internet connection and then estimate the time required to upload and download files of various sizes. ***FEATURED TOOL Tool: Geometria http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/74345/ Geometria Contributors Geometria is free (GPL) cross-platform software based on a two-role (teacher, student) model. The teacher creates a problem, provides it with an answer and saves the problem in a file. The student opens the file and solves the problem. The student's actions are recorded. The teacher plays back the solution and grades it. The figures are limited to convex polyhedra, which can be measured, drawn upon, transformed, cut and joined. ***FEATURED TOOL Tool: Parallel Lines Cut by a Transversal http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/78236/ Mr. Vahn This movie has sound and graphics. It shows the relationship of the angles formed by a pair of parallel lines and a transversal. Also includes an application problem. Takes 5 minutes to view. 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 -- 12 April 2009