Friday, January 17, 2014

Math Links for Week Ending Jan. 17, 2014

Just announced this morning is the newly designed Math Gains Site (actually all of Edugains has been redesigned). Among the changes are

  • 'Links' connects the user to a number of ministry and educational partners' websites (e.g., subject/division associations, Ontario Educational Resource Bank (OERB), Ontario Software Acquisition Program Advisory Committee (OSAPAC), Publications Ontario, Ministry of Education) to provide a greater number of educational learning resources. 
  • 'Social Media' icons provide the user with the opportunity to share content with colleagues via Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and/or Google+. 
  • 'Survey' links allow the user to provide input that informs the evolution of EduGAINS, so that the website can be responsive to the learning and teaching needs of Ontario's educators.

Curriculum Tags: All
http://www.edugains.ca/newsite/math/index.html

There is a just launched YouTube channel associated with The Nerdist called Math Bites. It's hosted by Danika McKellar, who is the author of books like Math Doesn't Suck, Kiss My Math, Hot X: Algebra Exposed & Girls Get Curves: Geometry Takes Shape (due out this August). You might also know her from the TV shows The West Wing and The Wonder Years. As Danica puts it Math Bites
"are little bites of mathy goodness - you'll learn a little something, but mostly you'll be entertained by the likes of yours truly, Felicia Day, Chris Hardwick, Jim O'Heir, Jonathan Bennett, Dustin Milligan, Amanda Crew, Matt Mira, Jonah Ray, Matt Kawcynzski, and more! "
Currently the first two episodes are out and can be seen here on the YouTube Playlist:
Curriculum Tags: All
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLl4T6p7km9dbGCsAooT8-ujI9xAQnjsfJ

Against All Odds appears to be a really great resource on statistics and probability created by Annenberg Learner. It comes in the form of 32 well produced videos on all manor of statistical topics. Real life examples of where statistics are used and resources to go along with the videos. Check out the sample video below.
Curriculum Tags: MBF3C, MAP4C, MDM4U
http://www.learner.org/courses/againstallodds/unitpages/index.html

OK so maybe these all aren't the best math jokes but any article that has the phrase "This is another hilarious reference to an infinite series" is worth a look (and there are explanations for those that are more difficult).
Curriculum Tags: All
http://www.businessinsider.com/13-math-jokes-that-every-mathematician-finds-absolutely-hilarious-2013-5

I can't help putting these up when ever someone creates a fun graph on Desmos. Of course these graphs aren't unique to Desmos but the Desmos crew do a great job of making their graphing program look fun (even though creating these graphs must be difficult). Anyway, this sort of thing fits very well in any discussion of domain and range:
Curriculum Tags: MCF3M, MCR3U, MHF4U
https://www.desmos.com/calculator/gafbe0otjh

Some more evidence that lotteries/gambling is a tax on stupidity. That being said, you can't win the lottery without actually buying a ticket.
Curriculum Tags: Gr7, Gr8, MBF3C, MDM4U
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jan/06/betting-shop-machines-predatory-capitalism

Math and Art collide when George Hart is put in charge. See how he creates this beautiful spherical sculpture using geometry and deft carpentry skills. Oh, yeah and he is Vi Hart's dad. Go figure.
Curriculum Tags: All
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZN4vmQ93eQ

I love this video from Johnny Ball about how the capture-recapture method works. In it he shows how it works for ping pong balls and then he uses the method in a live experiment to estimate the number of black cabs in London (I won't tell you how it ends). I found out about this video from the I Speak Math blog where she has an entire lesson that uses this video as a starter when talking about proportionality. Then does a hands on activity to simulate it using Goldfish crackers. Fun stuff, check that out here. So that makes the video good for any lesson on sampling as well as any lesson on proportionality.
Curriculum Tags: Gr7, Gr8, MBF3C, MDM4U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyX79mPm2xY


Numberphile demonstrates the craziness of infinity with this one: 1 + 2 + 3 + .... infinity = -1/12 . Even for students that don't understand series this is enough for them to say "Wah?". This is perfect for any high level discussion of infinite series with MCR3U or MHF4U students. Thanks to Mark Esping for this one
Curriculum Tags: MCR3U, MHF4U

Its always good to have real data. So if you are in need of a bar graph for a question, here is one that represents the total square footage of LCD screens made by Corning Glass over the years. Thanks to Mark Esping for this one.
Curriculum Tags: Gr7, Gr8
http://seekingalpha.com/article/1927231-the-spread-of-glass



From Twitter and perfect for any discussion of average (though probably a little subtle for anyone but MDM4U kids)
Curriculum Tags: MDM4U

No comments:

Post a Comment