PCMI @ MathForum: 2006-2007 Participant Outreach Activities

2006-2007 Participant Outreach Activities

To build a core group of users for the PCMI @ Math Forum resources, participants of the 2006 Secondary School Teacher Program have offered the following activities.

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[Sep - Oct, 2006] [Nov - Dec, 2006] [Jan - Feb, 2007]
[Mar - Apr, 2007] [May - Jun, 2007] [Jul - Aug, 2007]

CMP2 8th Grade Initial Use - Seattle Public Schools: Date: August 25-27, 2006; Presenter: Alan Bond assisted Jim Buchanan(SPS) and Ginny Stimpson(UW); Description: Taught other 8th grade teachers from around the district about the mathematics and pedegogy surrounding Looking for Pythagoreas and Moving Straight Ahead.
California State Algebra Forum - Los Angeles, CA: Date: ongoing; Presenter: Peg Cagle; Description: Invited participant in a statewide collaboration of the California Department of Education, county offices and WestEd to make recommendations and act as expert advisor to state organizations serving districts and schools to improve student learning in Algebra.
Software for the Math Classroom - Grand Forks School District: Date: 2006-2007 school year; Presenter: Cathy Williams; Description: A demonstration of Fathom and TI-Smartview software
Students & Parents in Pre-Calculus Class - Garfield High School, Seattle, WA: Date: 2006-2007 school year; Presenter: Kelley Butler; Description: At the end of each unit, students are required to present their work to their parents. These portfolio nights are "... an amazing way of keeping lines of communication open. Parents enjoy the contact (even if they don't totally understand the math). Everyone seems to enjoy these evenings."
The Fourth International Conference on Origami in Science, Mathematics and Education - California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA: Date: September 8-10, 2006; Presenter: Peg Cagle; Description: The 4OSME talk "Modular Origami in the Secondary Classroom" centered on ways to use the study of three families of origami models (face, skeletal and edge models) with secondary geometry students to build spatial reasoning.
The Quadrature of the Lune; a Brief Tour of Greek Mathematical Thought - Mary Hardin Baylor University: Date: September, 2006; Presenter: Ralph Polley; Description: A survey of the development of the concept of proof from the Egyptians through the Babylonians to the Greeks. And a look at quadrature as a way of comparing areas, and the impact of the quadrature of the lune on the search in the following centuries for a method for squaring the circle. The talk was adapted from William Dunham's book Journey Through Genius.
Co-coaches of the Lake Washington HS Math Team - Washington State: Date: September 2006 - May 2007; Presenter: Joyce Frost and Joe Frost; Description: Our math team participated in numerous math competitions including "Math is Cool", "Fall Classic", "State Math Championships", "AMC 12 A and B", "AIME", U. of Waterloo "Euclid", Eastlake Math Competition, and "Mu Alpha Theta state contest".; Comment: Our team tee shirt had the slogan: (cos x)^2 + (sin x)^2 = 0 with a slash through it. This was followed by the line "Stop Identity Theft".
Using The Math Forum to Promote and Enhance Mathematical Representation - NCTM Regional Meeting in Chicago: Date: September 20, 2006; Presenter: Suzanne Alejandre; Description: The wide range of Math Forum resources -- from interactive software to mentoring programs and research materials -- enables students and teachers to pursue mathematical representation in a variety of forms. This workshop explained how to find useful technology, promote mathematical discussion, and use non-routine, open-ended problems.
45th Northwest Mathematics Conference - Victoria, BC.: Date: October 20, 2006; Presenter: Joyce Frost; Description: Presented a workshop on "Assessing Geometry through Space-Tesselating Shapes.
Critical Site Visit Team to Baltimore - Baltimore, MD: Date: October 18-21, 2006; Participant: Peg Cagle; Description: Cagle's team evaluated an NSF funded Math/Science Partnership grant site.
Project Based Learning for all Learners - Atlantic City, NJ: Date: October 19, 2006; Presenter: Nancy Bell-Ruppert; Description: A presentation of the outcomes of four project based learning units, and of how to use project based learning as part of service learning for undergraduates. The projects involved ESL, gifted, and undergraduate students exploring geometry. Each project was also part of collaboration with other professors and classroom teachers.
NCTM Regional Conference - Atlantic City, NJ: Date: October 20, 2006; Presenter: Brian Hopkins and Beverly Farahani; Description: The Fibonacci numbers and other recursive sequences can be seen and understood using Cuisinaire rods. The hands-on workshop "Seeing Recurrence with Rods" built certain kinds of 'trains' to aid visualizing several identities and quickly come to open questons, illustrating the color and fun of induction.
Exploring Roots of Functions Using Geometer's Sketchpad - Utah Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Salt Lake City, UT: Date: October 21, 2006; Presenter: Richard Stewart; Description: The main focus of this session was a discussion on how to use Geometer's Sketchpad to find the roots (including complex roots) of a function. The process utilizes GSP's ability to work with complex numbers. A brief discussion of other tools for exploring roots of functions also took place. Ideas used were developed during the Exploring Math portion of the summer 2006 SSTP.
NCTM Regional Conference - Atlantic City, NJ: Date: October 21, 2006; Presenter: Benjamin Sinwell; Description: The presentation "Counting the Trains: Patterns Leading to Algebra" related to work done in the 8:30 PCMI class during 2004 and 2005.
California Math Council-South annual conference - Palm Springs, CA: Date: November 4, 2006; Presenter: Peg Cagle; Description: "Putting Together the Pieces: Modular Origami and Polyhedra" examined the underlying structure and interrelations of Platonic and Archimedean polyhedra using a variety of captivating modular origami models.
California Math Council-South annual conference - Palm Springs, CA: Date: November 4, 2006; Presenter: Allen Martin; Description: Age Structured Population Models: We will examine linear models that allow us to gain insight into how populations with distinct age groups, or developmental stages, can behave. These models utilize elementary matrix algebra at a level appropriate for a Precalculus course. The models will include those of Leslie and Usher.
Grade 12 Curriculum Analysis - Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Date: November 4, 2006; Participant: Beverly Farahani; Description: At the request of the Ministry of Education, a group of teachers, district people, university professors, community college professors and business people discussed the material to be covered in the proposed grade 12 curriculum, whether or not it could be covered in the length of time proposed, and if the courses flowed from grade 11 to grade 12.
Northwest Mathematics Interaction Fall and Winter Workshops - Seattle and Bellingham, Washington: Date: November, 2006 and February, 2007; Participant: Joyce Frost; Description: Planned the program for the Seattle Fall workshop and the Bellingham Winter workshop which are outreach activities of the PCMI affiliate group, NWMI.
California Math Council-North annual conference - Asilomar, CA: Date: December 2, 2006; Presenter: Allen Martin; Description:Age Structured Population Models: We will examine linear models that allow us to gain insight into how populations with distinct age groups, or developmental stages, can behave. These models utilize elementary matrix algebra at a level appropriate for a Precalculus course. The models will include those of Leslie and Usher.
California Math Council-North annual conference - Asilomar, CA: Date: December 2, 2006; Presenter: Peg Cagle; Description: "Putting Together the Pieces: Modular Origami and Polyhedra" examined the underlying structure and interrelations of Platonic and Archimedean polyhedra using a variety of captivating modular origami models.
Developing frameworks for Grade 12 Supports - Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Date: December 18-20, 2006; Participant: Beverly Farahani; Description: Farahani's team created year-at-a-glance outlines of Advanced Function and Calculus and vectors courses, as well as unit outlines, identifying the learning goals for each course. This material will be distributed to all high schools in Ontario for use when implementing the latest revisions to the grade 12 curriculum.
Developing Mathematics: A Mathematics Content Course for Teachers Resulting In a Proof of the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra - Reconceptualizing Content Courses for Prospective High School Mathematics Teachers, AMS/MAA Joint Mathematics Meetings, New Orleans, LA: Date: January 6, 2007; Speakers: Benjamin Sinwell and Bowen Kerins; Description: Developing Mathematics is a problem-based course taught at the Park City Mathematics Institute that develops the habits of mind needed to do mathematics. It allows teachers to deeply explore mathematics connected to secondary mathematics and well beyond. It is a course that was born of successful interaction between mathematicians, math educators and teachers. Previous Developing Mathematics courses have dealt with Euclid's algorithm, generating functions, Gaussian integers, and Chebyshev polynomials. Sinwell and Kerins discussed how the course from the summer of 2006 used carefully crafted problem sets involving the use of dynamic geometry software to lead teachers to an understanding of a proof of the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra.
A Teacher's Perspective on Communities of Mathematicians and Teachers - MER-AMS-MAA Special Session on Mathematics and Education Reform, AMS/MAA Joint Mathematics Meetings, New Orleans, LA: Date: January 8, 2007; Speaker: Benjamin Sinwell; Description: Communities of mathematicians and teachers are formed to build the mathematical knowledge of teachers and their students. Sinwell's participation in Boston University's PROMYS for Teachers Program as a high school teacher gave him the opportunity to teach mathematics content courses to in-service secondary mathematics teachers at the Park City Mathematics Institute during the past several summers. Through these and other experiences, he has collaborated with various communities of mathematicians and teachers. He discussed the impacts of these experiences on his classroom teaching in multiple urban settings.
Creating Professional Development Activities for the New Grade 12 College Courses - Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Date: January 31 - February 2, 2007; Participant: Beverly Farahani; Description: A small group of people met at the Ministry of Education to create the framework for grade 12 college math supports. This included year at a glance outlines and unit outlines for each of the courses. The material developed will be used in professional development training later in the spring. Teachers from across the province will attend these sessions.
UCLA Math and Teaching Conference - UCLA: Date: February, 2007; Participant: Allen Martin; Description: Age Structured Population Models: We will examine linear models that allow us to gain insight into how populations with distinct age groups, or developmental stages, can behave. These models utilize elementary matrix algebra at a level appropriate for a Precalculus course. The models will include those of Leslie and Usher.
More than Just a Puzzle: the Math behind the Traffic Jam problem - Bellingham, WA: Date: February 24, 2007; Participant: Alan Bond; Description: Led teachers in an exploration of the Traffic Jam problem, in a similar way that I do with my students.
Preparing Minorities for Algebra - Asheville, NC: Date: Spring, 2007; Participant: Nancy Ruppert, with Ruafika Cobb; Description: Nancy and Ruafika have worked with African-American students to help prepare them for algebra. They will be hosting a one-week summer Algebra Academy for the participants this summer; and have had this experience accepted for presentation at the National Middle School Association for November, 2007.
Algebra I & II: Service to Service - Asheville, NC: Date: Spring, 2007; Participant: Nancy Ruppert, with Sarah Cox; Description: Nancy worked for a semester this spring in Sarah's Algebra I and Algebra II classes. In March, while Sarah was on a service trip to the Middle East, Nancy taught her class for two weeks as a service project, from which experience she has put together 10 "do's" for beginning teachers.
Using CAS with High School Students - T^3 International Conference, Chicago, Illinois: Date: March 9, 2007; Participant: Beverly Farahani; Description: Hands-on CAS activities that have been used to help reluctant learners move forward mathematically.
Navigating Algebra I with NUMB3RS - T^3 International Conference, Chicago, Illinois: Date: March 9, 2007; Presenter: John F. Mahoney; Description: This session focused on using the activities written to supplement the CBS TV series NUMB3RS. NUMB3RS activities are a joint effort by TI and CBS in association with NCTM to provide 9-12 teachers and students with high quality, engaging activities for using and understanding math. John, one of the writers of these activities, showed how to use them with the TI-Navigator system with 9th graders in an Algebra I course.
Developing Frameworks for Grade 12 Supports - Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Date: March 12-14, 2007; Participant: Beverly Farahani; Description: Farahani's team continued work on the day to day learning goals for Advanced Functions, Foundations of College Mathematics and Math for College Technology. This material will be distributed to all high schools in Ontario for use when implementing the latest revisions to the grade 12 curriculum.
What Is the International Baccalaureate Mathematics? - NCTM Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA: Date: March 22, 2007; Speaker: John Mahoney, with co-speaker Armando Madrigal; Description: The IB diploma program has 4 math courses. This session will 1) describe the courses' content, presumed knowledge, level of rigor, and grading process; 2) contrast them with AP courses; 3) describe scenarios which combine IB and AP; and 4) compare IB course content with concects in NCTM's standards.
AP Calculus Panel - NCTM Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA: Date: March 22, 2007; Panelist: John Mahoney; Description: John was a panelist at this meeting of AP Calculus teachers.
Algebra 1: Linear Equations - TI-84, TI-Navigator and NUMB3RS - NCTM Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA: Date: March 22, 2007; Presenter: John Mahoney; Description: John gave four presentations on this topic at the Texas Instruments booth in the exhibit hall. The focus was on how to use NUMB3RS activities with the TI-Navigator in Algebra I classes.
Lesson Study Team Planning - McAllen, Texas: Date: March 31, 2007; Presenter: Judith Carlin; Description: Presented how to plan a lesson by going through the steps of Anticipating student responses, Sequencing student responses, Questioning, and Debriefing. Drawing on material from the Math Leadership Conference that she attended (February, 2006, in Portland), through PD³, Carlin presented to approximately 12 teachers from McAllen.
Off on a Tangent with Gaspard Monge T^3 Regional Conference - Salt Lake City, Utah: Dates: April, 2007; Presenters: Troy Jones; Description: Constructing tangent lines to circles, and exploring Monge's Theorem in 2 and 3 dimensions
Points of Concurrency in Triangles and Tetrahedra T^3 Regional Conference - Salt Lake City, Utah: Dates: April, 2007; Presenters: Troy Jones; Description: Using compass and straightedge, Geometer's Sketchpad, and Cabri 3D to construct points of concurrency in triangles and tetrahedral. The equivalent of Euler's Line in a tetrahedron
Numb3rs activities: Date: ongoing; Advisor: John Mahoney; Description: John has joined the Numb3rs activities team. These activities relate directly to the CBS TV series and can be accessed at http://www.cbs.com/primetime/numb3rs/.
AP Calculus Electronic Discussion Group: Date: ongoing; Advisor: John Mahoney; Description: John is now the moderator of the AP Calculus EDG group. It can be accessed through AP Central or through the Math Forum.
Don't Give up on Math: Manageable Data Management - Barrie, Ontario, Canada: Date: May 4, 2007; Participant: Beverly Farahani; Description: Data Management has opened up mathematics to a whole group of students who had given up on math in the past. In this hands-on workshop, we will work together and learn some fresh ideas that have been successful with students -- ideas that you will be able to use easily in your classroom tomorrow.
Counting: It's Not Just for Breakfast Any More (Newton Master Teacher Seminar: Enumerative Combinatorics) - New York City: Date: May 15, 2007; Participant: Sendhil Revuluri; Description: This was a presentation to Math for America Newton Fellows and Newton Master Teachers and their invited guests (secondary math teachers in NYC public schools). What is (enumerative) combinatorics and why should math teachers care? This was mainly done through solving problems selected to illustrate basic (and not-so-basic) combinatorial principles and habits of mind. Some connections were also included to more advanced topics and we started working together to make connections to the "standard" curriculum (which is sadly deficient in combinatorial and discrete mathematics content).
Ontario Association for Mathematics Education - Ontario, Canada: Date: May 2007 - 2010; Participant: Beverly Farahani; Description: I have been reelected to the Board of Directors for the Ontario Association for Mathematics Education for a three year term.
Undergraduate Research - UNC-Asheville: Date: June 5 - August 8, 2007; Evaluator: Nancy Ruppert; Description: Nancy worked with the math department, eight undergraduates from different institutions, and four math faculty, to design a grant for undergraduates interested in doing research with mathematics faculty this summer. As part of the evaluation, they have hired a videographer who will be conducting her own undergraduate research as she documents the experience.
Introduction to Technology, Technology 2 Utah State Office of Education (USOE) Summer Inservice Workshop - St. George, Park City, Tooele, Utah: Dates: June - August, 2007; Presenters: Troy Jones, Michael Paxman, Lars Nordfelt; Description: Using Technology in Mathematics Teaching
Functions and Applications 11 - Ontario, Canada: Date: 2007; Coauthor: Beverly Farahani; Description: Farahani coauthored the textbook Functions and Applications 11, published by Nelson, that will be used in Ontario for the grade 11 University/College class of Functions and Applications.