MATH TOOLS NEWSLETTER - MAY 12, 2009 - No. 75 ***ONLINE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS For teachers of students in grades 3-5, we offer our online community-facilitated workshop: Tools for Building Math Concepts http://mathforum.org/toolsandconcepts/ The $50 workshop fee includes $25 for a CEU and a $25 credit toward one of our online PD courses. 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 The $100 workshop fee for these two workshops 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. ***FEATURED DISCUSSION Is "variable" confusing to students? http://mathforum.org/mathtools/discuss.html?&do=m&thread=a_____g-33 Susan asks, "Should we call the x in the second case an 'unknown' and not a variable?" ***FEATURED DISCUSSION mental arithmetics http://mathforum.org/mathtools/discuss.html?&do=m&thread=__h_tool__g-25 asdfljkqewf wonders, "Can someone recommend a software to train / do mental arithemetic in a whole class situation (middle school level)?" ***FEATURED DISCUSSION Does step size really equal speed? http://mathforum.org/mathtools/discuss.html?context=all&do=r&msg=80019 br adds to an ongoing discussion, "I think you made a valid point in recognizing the use of vocabulary. Using the term 'slope' to describe their speed would 'gloss over' students. Using the words 'rate of change' might help." ***FEATURED TOOL Tool: A Plethora of Polyhedra http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/80441/ Humberto Jose Bortolossi This is a free JAVA applet that helps users to study spatial geometry in a dynamic and interactive way. Using it, the user can rotate, zoom out, zoom in and translate a plethora of polyhedra. Moreover, the program is able to compute topological and geometrical duals of each polyhedron. Geometrical operations include unfolding, plane sections, truncation and stellation. ***FEATURED TOOL Tool: Functions: How b depends on a Dirce Uesu Pesco and Humberto Jose Bortolossi http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/79442/ This game explores functions in a different way: a and b = f(a) are drawn in a unique numerical line. When the user changes a, b = f(a) changes following a rule. The objective of the game is to discover this rule! ***FEATURED TOOL Tool: Triangle Classification Game http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/79443/ Humberto Jose Bortolossi In this activity the interactivity attempts to train the user in the classification of triangles with respect to sides and internal angles. The user should move the vertices of a triangle on a square grid in order to build the triangle which is required for each challenge. The environment integrates geometry and algebra, prompting many interesting questions. The final challenge asks if it is possible to build an equilateral triangle on a square grid. ***FEATURED TOOL Tool: The Game of Marienbad http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/80338/ Barbara Kaskosz A version of the game of Nim, as played in the film "Last Year at Marienbad." You and the computer take turns removing as many cards as you like from one row at a time; the player who takes the last card loses. ***FEATURED TOOL Tool: Families of Parametric Curves, Parametric Art http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/80339/ Barbara Kaskosz You can create beautiful images using families of parametric curves. This little application has two parts: "A Gallery," where the families are pre-defined, and "Choose a Family," where you can enter an arbitrary family of parametric curves and ranges for parameters, and see the images that result. You can then build your own gallery. 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 May 2009