Having the unified search field in google for images, websites or just about anything just got better. We knew previously that google would complete simple numerical calculations – the “google calculator”.
You can now graph functions from the google search box. Just put a comma between the functions.
Freetech4teachers has recently cautioned about introducing the flipping model. http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2012/04/three-questions-to-consider-before-we.html
Rather than introducing a full-flip model, we just need to rethink homework. What do we want students to be doing at home? What would your best student be doing at home? Here are some thoughts
The third of these – preparation is where flipping comes in. We want our students to be preparing for lessons in advance by reading ahead (or watching videos). Surely if our students have a basic knowledge of the content that can be filled out in class, they will benefit.
What are your thoughts? Do your students read ahead?
One other thought on homework is that my best students actually spend time correcting their work and finding the parts of content where they do not completely understand.
The Board of Studies issued a notice on 12th March which can be accessed here. It seemed like a very hurried announcement with no clear direction. Here is what we know:
So the question has arisen – Why has the Board of Studies decided this year to suddenly implement General 2 as a Board Developed examinable course, which counts towards an ATAR? At the same time General 1 has an elevated status of a Content Endorsed Course, non-examinable and not count towards an ATAR. The 3 Calculus developed courses have been ignored.
The new syllabus was due to be published by the “end of Term 1″ but we haven’t seen it yet. If you’re keen to see the new syllabus then visit this link: http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/archives/syllabus_hsc/pdf_doc/mathematics-general-2-stg6-draft.pdf
This tv program follows a mathematician as he seeks to discover the ‘code’ of numbers hidden in the world. The fantastic way that God has made the world so that all the numbers work together so beautifully.
This documentary is very well put together and I would be very happy to show relevant sections to my students.
The first half of this program looks at:
Click Here to access the program on SBS On Demand (for the next 9 days)
Sometimes us mathematicians get a bad rap.
“what do you do?”
“I’m a maths teacher.”
“oh, I didn’t like maths at school”
Had that conversation before? Checkout life hacker who suggests using numbers as a cure for insomnia.
As I am using my iPad more and more often, if I want to archive a site and keep a copy of it, it is difficult to copy the text and pictures out and put it into a word document – which is what I would do on my laptop.
I then save these files to Dropbox. Dropbox is online storage. You can access files directly from your mac, pc, iOS or android device. You can also seamlessly transfer files between these platforms. You get 2GB for free.
If you don’t have a Dropbox account, click here to sign up (you also give me a small amount of extra space if you use this link)
When Microsoft launched Office 2010, they destroyed inking in Word. I use a Toshiba Tablet PC (a must for any mathematics teacher!)
It allows me to create my worksheets (topic-based booklets) in word and then write directly on the screen with my toshiba supplied pen. I turn the pen over and it is an eraser (like an old fashion pencil) — this ease of erasing was broken in the initial release of 2010, but now it’s fixed!
Now there’s just the problem of not being able to delete all the ink in a document. Thankfully there is a fix for this problem to get that button back. Just watch the short video below.
There are two main ways that Geogebra can be used in the classroom. The first way, and potentially the most powerful way is what has been referred to as “The incidental use of Geogebra”.
You do not need any preparation for using Geogebra in is manner and it is also more student focused than the more traditional approach.
Example:
In a very short space of time, students can quickly understand that if add a constant to a function, the function moves vertically by that constant.
Pros: Little preparation required, students gain a good understanding as they are manipulating the graph themselves
Cons: The teacher has to relinquish some control to the students, all students must have access to Geogebra (or at least one between 2)
Resources for Geogebra
The second use of Geogebra is prepared resources that the teacher can project onto the whiteboard (IWB) may be beneficial, but not necessary. (I’ve posted previously about how to use an IWB, if you don’t have one and also how to use a stylus on your computer to make it a tablet)
Stay tuned for some prepared resources over the next few days.
YouTube has launched a channel focused on numbers and they’re paying creators of content.
Numberphile video about number 11, marking the last binary day of a generation: 11.11.11.
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Videos by Brady Haran
Check out the most recent video here:
