MATH TOOLS NEWSLETTER - January 21, 2011 - No. 94 ***Incorporating Financial Education into the Math Classroom http://mathforum.org/fe/courses/ Drawing on Math Forum resources and expertise, participants in this course will engage with problem solving, software, and technology tools as they explore financial education content and teaching strategies. This course, organized into three 2-week modules on the BlackBoard course platform, runs February 3 - March 16. Assignments will be given with deadlines, but participation will be asynchronous. Registration is free to the participants. This program is made possible by a generous grant from the FINRA Investor Education Foundation. http://mathforum.org/pd/fecourse.html \|/ As you browse the catalog, please take a moment to rate a resource, comment on it, review it -- join an existing conversation, or start a new discussion! ***FEATURED ACTIVITY Activity: The Cost of Being Late http://mathforum.org/mathtools/activity/98356/ Julie Healy The primary goal of this lesson is to understand that the costs associated with buying on credit and that making only minimum payments are problematic to long-term financial health. The secondary goal is to formulate a plan to extinguish the debt quicker. This lesson will help students see the real cost of purchasing an item when interest and fees are added to the purchase price. The scenario that will be used for this lesson is based on the first year of the life of a new credit card. The student handout describes the scenario and poses a series of questions based on the use of either the simulator or the spreadsheet application. ***FEATURED TOOL Tool: Rework Your Budget http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/111401/ Practical Money Skills for Life (VISA) Knowing where your money goes is an eye-opening experience and an education in itself. This calculator will help you by tracking your expenses. Keep a log and jot down whatever you spend. In this way, you will be able to take control of your money and your current financial situation. ***FEATURED TOOL Tool: Algebra - Writing Expressions http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/99226/ BCC/Netmedia/Alan Williams This is a short quiz to test students' knowledge of the rules used in formulating an algebraic expression. ***FEATURED TOOL Tool: Numbers & Letters Games http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/98795/ Duncan Keith In the numbers game, the computer will select six numbers (from a given group of four large and twenty small numbers). Students must use those numbers and the four basic operations to make the target number. Use the timer for an added challenge. In the letters game, students are to make the longest word they can using the letters given. The anagrams game involves unscrambling a given word. ***FEATURED TOOL Tool: Student Loan Debt Calculator http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/112008/ Bankrate Inc. The "Student loan debt calculator" applies two simple principles to paying off high-interest debt. 1. Consolidate the existing student loans 2. Use the extra cash every month to pay off other higher interest debt sooner We apply the amount of payment savings you choose to the nonstudent loan debt with the highest rate. When that balance is paid in full, the balance with the next highest rate will be paid down. This continues until you have rolled through all of the balances and the non-student loan debt is paid in full. Click the "View Report" button for a detailed look at the results. ***FEATURED TOOL Tool: Function Machines http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/98162/ Duncan Keith Test yourself on basic function machines with these ten questions. ***FEATURED TECHNOLOGY POW Technology PoW: Math at the Snack Bar http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tpow/99997/ Suzanne Alejandre using applet by Alexander Bogomolny Use an interactive applet for visual examples of the distributive property. NOTE: A free login is required. Sign up using the link on the login page, or use your existing KenKen or Problems of the Week login. 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/ Twitter Feed http://mathforum.org/pd/twitter.html \`. .--------------.___________) \ |//////////////|___________[ ] `--------------' ) ( '-' The Math Forum @ Drexel -- 21 January 2011