MATH TOOLS NEWSLETTER - December 30, 2012 - No. 115 ***2013 MATHEMATICS GAME http://mathforum.org/yeargames/ The 2013 Year Game challenges students to write expressions for each of the counting numbers 1 through 100, using the digits in the year 2013, standard operations, and grouping symbols. View the rules, worksheet, and manipulatives for 2013 now before submitting your own solutions starting January 1st, which we'll start displaying on February 1, 2013. ***MATH FORUM ONLINE PD COURSES http://mathforum.org/pd/ Our next professional development courses start soon: - Problem Solving Strategies http://mathforum.org/pd/problemsolving/ - PoW Class Membership: Resources & Strategies for Effective Implementation http://mathforum.org/pd/membership/ - Mentor Your Own: Supporting Strong Development of Mathematical Practices http://mathforum.org/pd/mentorown/ - Learning from Student Work: Make the Most of Your PoW Membership http://mathforum.org/pd/studentwork/ \|/ ***FEATURED DISCUSSION Using iPad apps in the classroom http://mathforum.org/mathtools/discuss.html?&do=m&thread=___disc_133734_g-1 Suzanne asks "Are you using math apps on iPads or other mobile devices with your students?" ***FEATURED DISCUSSION Maple IDE - efficient development toolkit for Maple http://mathforum.org/mathtools/discuss.html?&do=m&thread=_____dev-106 HelenGolovina says, "Maple IDE is the only Eclipse based efficient development toolkit to rapidly build standout applications for Maple, one of the most powerful Computer Algebra Systems." ***FEATURED TOOL Tool: Geom-e-Twee http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/188554/ John Miller This is the junior version of Geom-e-Tree. It enables the manipulation of geometric trees with two or three branches. Change the angle between branches and the common ratio. Selectable themes draw trees with uniform color, or different colors on successive levels. Shadows on some themes show overlapping branches. The app always scales the Twee to fit within the view, and has a "perfect reduction factor mode" that draws self-contacting trees (not over-lapping or stunted). ***FEATURED TOOL Tool: Data Games: Lunar Lander http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/188497/ KCP Technologies, U Mass-Amherst Students develop their skills with polynomial and rational expressions to create formulas that evaluate lunar landings. [Access requires setting up a (free) login.] ***FEATURED TOOL Tool: Maple IDE (integrated development environment) http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/190130/ DigiArea, Inc. This flexible development toolkit for Maple includes a code editor with code folding, syntax coloring, code formatting and real-time error detection. Maple IDE also delivers features specific to developing Maple applications like advanced Maple Project, Outline views, code Templates, Running and Debugging tools and more. ***FEATURED TOOL Tool: Data Games: Cartweight http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/191797/ KCP Technologies, U Mass-Amherst Students guess the total weight of a cart loaded with a given number of bricks. This requires them to interpret and apply data from the linear model. [Access requires setting up a (free) login.] ***FEATURED TOOL Tool: PolygonFlux http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/188576/ John Miller PolygonFlux lets you experience the flow of energy inside a polygon by tracing the path of a point bouncing around inside a polygon of your choice, generating a pretty pattern. You control the location of the "shooter" and its direction. The path the point travels is displayed instantly, as determined by the Law of Reflection: "The angle of reflection is equal to the angle of incidence," meaning that the point bounces off a side at the same angle it came in on, just like a billiard ball deflects off a bumper on a pool table, or a light ray reflects off a mirror. ***FEATURED TOOL Tool: Data Games: Shuffleboard http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/191799/ KCP Technologies, U Mass-Amherst Students try to push disks using varying amounts of force and earn higher scores when they land on a pad without falling off. They learn to interpret data from the linear model relating the distance to the amount of push. [Access requires setting up a (free) login.] ***FEATURED TOOL Tool: PolygonTrix http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/188573/ John Miller Every school child has played with a pool ball on a rectangular table or a carom puck on a square board. What would change if the table were a triangle or a pentagon? PolygonTrix is a game that shows how tricky the dynamics can be inside a regular polygon of three to nine sides. ***FEATURED TOOL Tool: Data Games: Floyd's of Fargo http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/191800/ KCP Technologies, U Mass-Amherst Students find the optimal price for an insurance company premium in this game by interpreting data and applying their understanding of linear and quadratic models. [Access requires setting up a (free) login.] \|/ 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! 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 Newsletter Archive http://mathforum.org/mathtools/newsletter/ Twitter Feed http://mathforum.org/pd/twitter.html Blogs http://mathforum.org/blogs/ Facebook http://www.facebook.com/themathforumatdrexel Community http://mathforum.org/community/ \`. .--------------.___________) \ |//////////////|___________[ ] `--------------' ) ( '-' The Math Forum @ Drexel -- 30 December 2012