Applications, Hands-on Maths & Self-instruction

'Bringing the Oustide World Into the Classroom via video and engaging activity design ' 

There are lots and lots of great videos out on the net that make an engaging  introduction to mathematical concepts and techniques. This session aims to show you some examples of:

1. Applications of Mathematics

2. Beyond the classroom possibilities.

3. Inspiration.

The video is however, only a starting point. Each of the videos below ties into a carefully designed resource to take the initial engagement and interesting context into a more profound and lasting experience.

Applications

1. Recreating Reality with  Physical World Sequences:

2. How your ear hears (first 5m10 for IB trig classes, first 2m25 as an intro to Tri, or from 3m to 5m10 as a fractions starter!) and the amazing world of Waves, how they define physical realities and movement of sound - here's another experiment you can do at home to produce waves, couresty of fizzics.org (watch from 2m48 to 3m15).

3. Are their any limits to physical abilities? Modelling the past to predict the future.

4. Talent spotting, the increasing role of statistics and measurement in high performance sports.

5. Algebra is not abstract and the origins of decimals and efficiency of graphs explored.

6. With Aids week approaching Hans Rosling offers a good overview (www.ted.com). This video leads nicel into this Aids HIV Statistic resource or "the seemingly impossible is possible" (don't miss from 16m54 onwards) into the activity Dynamic Scatter graphs.

Beyond the Classroom Possibilities

1. Mythbusters bringing to life a simple power function. Can you visualise powers/indices/exponents?

2. There's no relationship between triangles and circles . . . . is there?

3. Why are Prime's ( An Infinity of Primes) like the  DNA of the number system and what does this mean? What's their relationship with Cicada's? The wasp (Sphecius speciosus) paralyzes a cicada with her sting, carries it back to a chamber in her underground burrow, lays an egg on it, and seals the chamber. A few days later the egg hatches and the wasp larva eats the cicada alive. But the wasps' lives are in synch with cicadas of the genus Tibicen, not with cicadas of the genus Magicicada, which are currently crowding the eastern U.S. Cicada Predators  

4. Experience of the very big and the very small can be useful when understanding the need to round to a certain number of decimal places.

5. Similarly, scientific notation/standard form requires experience of very big things and very small things.

6. Someone give me a number- and watch what you say! Number Rights

Inspiration

1. Creativity is possible even with age old ideas such as squares, cubes and roots . . . .

2. It's about  looking at old things in new ways, like the various 'special' quadrilaterals.

3. Solve the Mathematical algorithms to unfold your brain and detect its activity and the message it is trying to communicate!

4. Plans and Elevations leading us to the 11th dimension reality of parallel universes?

Self Instruction

There are a nimber of great sites that allow students to "learn/explore mathematics" for themselves, and that are completely ffree..

Your Task

Create a classtools game and think of an activity idea to accompany it - maybe for one of your lessons next week.

Set up your Google Site

If already have a gmail account and need help creating a google site follow the process below. If you're don't you can create one quickly here or watch the video below (1m33 onward, unless interested in "aviary" online picture editing tool) and use this link to get a google account without signing up for gmail:

Google Account using non-gmail address (for access to Reader, Sites, Docs etc. without a gmail account):

Desmos

Desmos offers, like Geogebra belown a huge bank of carefully crafterd and engaging lesson resources shared by teachers from all over the world - browse and choose one that you know will best suit your particular class(es).

It also has pre-made activities, videos, online software etc. etc;
A real goldmine of mathematical activity!

Geogebra

Geogebra has an almost limitless number of applets to use and give to your students to let them explore the mathematics, with the advantage of getting instant feedback on their investigations and hypothesis. A fantastic way to develop the scientific method of curiosity!, careful observation, experimentation and the application/integration of 'feedback loops' in young people.

Tracker

Great for modelling and hence for the new Exploration in IB HL and SL. See video below for a good overview of the functionality offered. CAUTION: You may need to use SHIFT CTRL to choose the point mass you wish to track. Download the software here: Tracker.

Same "How to use autotracker" content covered here but with an American presenter.

CIMT online questions

Just questions/exercises, but section that gives automatic feedback and some useful explanation and has the solutions also. Sign-up (for FREE) to get a password to access the solution PDFs on end of unit tests etc.

All materials on this website are for the exclusive use of teachers and students at subscribing schools for the period of their subscription. Any unauthorised copying or posting of materials on other websites is an infringement of our copyright and could result in your account being blocked and legal action being taken against you.