The page of digital and non-digital games has grown too long and unwieldy, so I’ve finally taken the time to reorganize the content by topic area. I’ve also added all the new “Block” games on various topics in Trigonometry, Rational Exponents, and Logarithms.

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Yesterday I had a short talk in the ITLC Themed Session called “Change the Classroom, Change the Learning” about the necessity of math classroom redesign.

Without changing the classrooms, it is unlikely that we will see much change in the instructors or students.

Here is the video from the talk, called “What does the Classroom Say?” and the slides from the presentation.

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The “colored counter” method is an old tried-and-true method for teaching the concept of adding signed numbers.  However, to show subtraction with the colored counter method has always seemed painful to me … that is, until I altered the method slightly.

Now all problems are demonstrated within a “Sea of Zeros” and when you need to take away counters, you can simply borrow from the infinite sea.  Voila!  Here’s a short video to demonstrate addition and subtraction of integers using the “Sea of Zeros” method.  You can print some Colored Counter Paper here.

Video: Colored Counters in a Sea of Zeros

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Registration for the 2012 MCC Math & Technology Workshop opens today at Noon EDT.  Participants from all over the world are welcome, as long as you can speak English.

You can find information on the workshop and registration information at the website:

2012 MCC Math & Technology Workshop

The cost for the 2012 Workshop is $160.  Hotel is very reasonable at $69.99/night (+tax).

The registration is two-tiered.  First you’ll need to submit your information, and then after a quick check to make sure you’re the first registrant from your institution, we’ll confirm that you can continue on to complete the payment portion of registration.  If you are not the first person from your institution to register, we’ll place you on the waiting list.  As plans change over the next year, there are usually 3-5 positions at the workshop that become available to the waiting list.

Each participant has to complete a final 5-minute presentation on the last day, and I thought I’d share one of the best presentations from last year (with Karen’s permission), called Once Upon a Time in Technologyland.

Hope to see you at the 2012 MCC Math & Technology Workshop!

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I’ve got three public presentations at AMATYC:

• Learning through Games in Beginning Algebra, Thursday: 10-11:30am in Rm. 417AB
• Change the Classroom, Change the Learning: Friday, 11:15-11:45am in Salon D
• The Search for a KAP Gap in Collegiate Mathematics: Friday, 3:30-4:20 in Salon A

Playing through Games in Beginning Algebra: In this hands-on workshop, we’ll play with algebra games, puzzles, and manipulatives that you can take back to your classrooms. In addition we’ll examine a few of the good digital games that are now available.

Change the Classroom, Change the Learning: In 2009 we began a redesign plan for two of the classrooms on our campus to encourage student-centered teaching practices.  The results were more surprising than we expected.  If you want to change the way instructors teach, you may have to change their environment first.

The Search for a KAP Gap in Collegiate Mathematics: A Knowledge-Attitude-Practice Gap is when we know about something, and have a favorable attitude, but choose not to use or practice it.  Have math instructors fallen into a KAP Gap with regards to student-centered teaching practices? In order to search for a KAP Gap, I first had to search for all the missing information.  Who are community college math instructors? Do they know about student-centered instructional practices? How do they get this knowledge? What kind of professional development do they participate in? What is their attitude towards student-centered instruction? What do they believe about specific practices?  How much do they use student-centered practices?  Finally, how are their attitudes and environment connected to their practice?  The results of this study shed light on all of these questions and begin to explain why there IS a KAP Gap.  With knowledge of what’s causing the KAP Gap, we can begin to bridge it.

I will also be at the Cengage Learning Reception at the Cactus Mexican Grill on Friday night, 5:30-7:30pm.  See ya in Austin!

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This was a surprisingly good video about the math of the U.S. Electoral College system.  At first I kept saying “but wait a minute…” but all my concerns were addressed in the video, and then some.  I was surprised by the revelation (towards the end of the video) that it is theoretically possible (although not likely) to win the seat of President of the United States with less than 23% of the popular vote.  Wow.

There is some great math of ratios and percents here.  You can find data and other pertinent information about the Electoral College here.

You might also enjoy playing the Redistricting Game with your students, where you can “recast” who wins an election based on how you draw the boundaries on a map.

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The 5th annual MCC Math & Technology Workshop will be August 6-10, 2012.  It seems hard to believe that we’ve been welcoming math instructors to Muskegon to learn about technology for four years now, but I guess it must be so.

Registration for the 2012 “Math Tech Bootcamp” (as its affectionately known as) will begin at Noon EDT on November 9.  I’ll be posting a link to the registration information on the morning of November 9 (register fast, this usually books in less than one week).

Thought I would share some of the comments from 2011 participants:

I would definitely recommend this workshop. I’ve attended many workshops and professional development activities over the years and was already using or somewhat knowledgeable using many of the things talked about but I learned SO much! Tips and tricks and more efficient uses along with new ideas for use have been invaluable!

This workshop is great to help instructors bridge the technological gap which opened since their last computer class! No teacher left behind!

I learned all of the things about that ‘I was afraid to ask’ about. I am not alone in being technologically challenged!

This workshop is great value for the money because regardless of your level of experience with a specific item, there is something to be learned. In addition, this workshop truly is a “bootcamp” – it is intense, fast-paced, tough, and ultimately transforming.

This workshop is definitely worth a small investment of time and funds in order to learn more about internet and technology. I was really surprised how much I learned about the tools I already use that improves my experience with them.

It was a fantastic opportunity to learn about new and not-so-new technology in an environment that was supportive and encouraged playing with it.

Before the workshop I knew very little about the possibilities of using technology to enhance student learning, aside from using a graphing calculator in class. Now I feel I will be much more effective as an instructor. I can’t wait to get started with the new technologies that I learned about.

The MCC Math Technology Workshop was excellent. It was well-organized with relevant, useful information. The best feature was the time to work in a lab setting with colleagues from your discipline. A lot of GREAT ideas were exchanged and I left the conference with great free software and hardware, but more importantly a jump drive of ideas, finished work and I am looking forward to implementing as much as I can right away.

One week to learn am amazing quantity of technology. Many different software and hardware are explored. It is definitely the most important and educational conference that I have ever been to in my life. An absolute MUST for mathematical educators.

This MCC work is the best for the money you spend and for the knowledge you learn about technology and teaching. An added feature is the location in Michigan.

Packed with information and hands-on experience. Great coverage of hardware and software to get you up and going RIGHT NOW with using technology in your classes.

There you have it.  If you’d like to attend, mark your calendar to register on Wednesday or as soon as possible thereafter.  We allow one participant per college in the first cut for registration.  The registration fee is $160 (includes lunch and snacks), and hotel runs $69.99 per night (+tax) with free breakfast and wi-fi.  Transportation to/from airports, hotel, and workshop site can be provided.

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I have a new Teaching with Tech column published in MAA FOCUS about digital grading. In particular…

• Why would you want to grade papers digitally?
• What kind of hardware/software would you need?
• How do you manage the files and workflow?
• How to use custom stamps to give more detailed feedback (more details on that one on an older blog post)

Abandon the Red Pen, MAA FOCUS, October/November 2011

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Some time last year I spent quite a bit of time reflecting on what skills we could be focusing on in higher education to “future-proof” a degree.  What skills will stay relevant no matter what future careers look like?  There are two frameworks used and endorsed in K-12 education: Partnership for 21st Century Skills and Equipped for the Future.

I felt that the lists not quite right for adults that are returning or seeking an education.  Here is the list that I developed, and a link to the Prezi that includes many video resources that correspond with the skills.

Focus

• Manage your information stream
• Pay attention to details
• Remember (when you need to)
• Observe critically
• Read with understanding
• Set and meet goals

Explain

• Media literacy (determine and create the right media for the job)
• Present ideas digitally
• Design for the audience
• Depict data visually
• Convey ideas in text
• Speak so that others understand

Interact

• Advocate and influence
• Resolve conflict and negotiate
• Collaborate (F2F or virtually)
• Guide others
• Lead

Analyze

• Interpret data
• Make decisions
• Think critically
• Solve problems
• Forecast
• Filter information

Flex

• Think across disciplines
• Think across cultures
• Innovate
• Adapt to new situations
• See others’ perspectives
• Be creative

Learn

• Formulate a learning plan
• Synthesize the Details
• Information Literacy
• Formulate good questions
• Reflect and evaluate
• Know what you know

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Here’s my recent TEDxMuskegon talk called A Recipe for Free Range Learning.

In my opinion, there is the basic recipe for learning. Any type of learning, be it free range or structured, should mind the recipe to be effective.

A Recipe for Learning
Ingredients: High-quality Information
Directions: Re-engage often and reflect
Spice: Social Interaction
Final Preparation: A Final Learning Challenge

While it is possible to be a “free-range learner” I would argue that it’s not likely that the average person can successfully learn on their own, and I outline why in this talk.  The industrial education system, much maligned of late, may be a necessary evil as long as we want the majority of people to have a broad liberal arts education.

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